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Hunting 



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Trapping Stories 



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A BOOK 



FOR 



BOVS 



PUBLISHED BY 

/Ap. l^UGHLiN Bros 

• NEV/ YORK- 











7 ^ r M 




This Book is written in " small boy 
fashion, " that is, the stories have not been told 
in any particular order, for children like to 
go from one thing to another, from Tiger to 
Whale, from Moose to Squirrel. 

Every boy aspires to own a gun, and a 
good many dream of big yame hunting, but 
unfortunately few realize their ambitions. To 
those who are not lucky enough to be able to 
follow the trail, this book may prove to be of 
some comfort, for the pages endeavour to bring 
the forest-folk to the fireside. . 

The greater part of these stories were 
originally told to two small boys, affectionately 
known as "GEC'and "CUB," who before 
they were twelve years of age were both good 
shots and had seen considerable real hunting. 





A Migration of Spring Boks 
Stories of the Orang-Utan 
A Serval Meets a Snake 
Ostrich Hunting 
The Beaver 
The Prarie Dogs 
The Squirrels 
Wild Elephants The Porciipine and the Dog 
All About Lions The Chameleon 

Stories of Giraffes C(jnoeruing Badgers 

A FiRht Between an Ibex and LynxThe Rabbit 



The Man who Stole a Tiger Cub 

Storie.s of Tiger Hunting 

Gorilla Hunting 

A Hunt for a Grizzly 

Polar Bears 'and Esquimaux 

Hippopotamus Hunting 

Hunting and Catching 




Polar Bears 

A Leopard Story 

About Tapirs and Capybaras 

The Mouse Hunt 

A Scheme to Kill a Wolf 

Hunting Baboons 

Hunting the Aoudad 

Hunting Chamois 

Fox Hunting 

The Glutton and the Fox 

Fox and Capercalzie. 

The Ai-ctic Fox 

The History of Two Ocelots 

An Otter Hunt 

The Moongus and the Cobra 

Rattlesnakes 

Catching Gerboas 

Catching Monkeys 

The Rhinoceros 

Condors 

Lassoing a Jaguar 

The Cape Buffalo at Home 

Two Crocodile Stories 

Hunting Deer 

The Kangaroo 



Whale Hunting in the 

Seychelle Islands 
A Sword Fish Hunt 
An Adventure with a Shark 
Capturing the Sunfish 
Grampusses and Narwhales 
All About the Grampus 
Hunting Sea Lions 
Shooting Flying Fish 
Bears ! 

Shetland Ponies 
Horses all over the World 
Wolves ! 
The O17X ■ 
The Silver King 
A Pike and Moorhen 
The King Vultures 
A Perilous Adventure with Tigers 
The Cormorant as a Fisherman 
The History of a Chicken Thief 
The Soko 
Dogs of all Classes 
Shooting Wild Ducks and Geese 
Men, Animal and Bird Poachers 
Hints on Camping 



yj(i_§f 




..o"^ 




HOMAGE TO THE KING 



THE MAN WHO STOLE A TIGER CUB. 

A certain gentleman who was travelling in India was very anxious to 
take home with him alive tiger cub. Now baby tigers are not to be bought 
on every street corner as he discovered, but at last he found a native hunter 
who was willing to get him a live specimen. 

For some time a big tiger had infested the jungle not far from the 
village and the native, in the course of his wanderings found a small cave 
which proved to be the tiger's den. He kept watch for several days and 
discovered that the tigress had little cubs. All tigers are suspicious and 
watchful especially when they have young ones and seldom leave them alone 
for any length of time. 

The hunter stationed himself in a tree and from there observed the 
tigress's movements. He found that towards sundown each evening she went 
off in search of prey and left the cubs at the cave's mouth to sun themselves. 
They were still quite small, being hardly larger than good sized cats. 

The hunter made all his preparations and one day arming himself only 
with a sack, and taking a native boy as a helper he set out in earnest upon 
his perilous task. 

The gentleman and some friends whiled away the time at the club until 
the hunter should return. Suddenly there was a cry outside and a babel ot 
voices, and the native boy rushed in among them screaming and raving. 
When they had calmed him down and assured him that he was safe he told 
his tale and it was simple enough. They had watched the tigress go away 
and then the hunter had crept to the bank near the cave's mouth and leaning 
over seized a cub by the neck. He was about to bundle it into the sack 
when the tigress, who must have suspected that something was wrong, 
appeared behind him ! Before the boy could utter a cry of alarm the tigress 
made one silent spring and buried her claws in the thief's back. Then she 
stepped aside an instant and stood with uplifted paw ready for another move, 
but the man was done for. The boy turned and fled and did not even 
stop to breathe until he was safe among human beings again. 

The only safe way to get a tiger cub in a case like that would be to 
to shoot the mother, otherwise unless the party is large and well armed, they 
are likely to meet the fate of this native. 

Sometimes when a tiger has been robbed of a cub it will follow the scent 
to the village and descend upon it at night carrying death and destruction in 
its path. Tiger cubs are pretty and playful when they are small but they 
soon get teeth and claws and use them roughly. In zoological gardens it is 
a common thing for keepers to let the cubs out of the cage. 



STORIES OF TIGER HUNTING 
There is something about the name of "Tiger" whieh holds one spell- 
bound Every traveler who has visited any country where these great 
creatures live comes back well stocked with stories illustratmg the beauty, 
strength, cunning and ferocity of the tiger. Whole books have been written 
giving descriptions of the royal brute. We will relate a few anecdotes 
which will give some idea of its life and habits. r -d v u r f ^ 

A centteman living in Burmah. who held the position of British district 
iudse was from time to time much troubled by the depredations made in his 
section by tigers. This man's duties were numerous; he looked after the 
irricration works, settled disputes, kept order among the^ natives, saw that the 
mails were properly attended to, and any other odd job that came his way. 
When a tiger would haunt any of his villages he had to devise means for 
destroying the pest. Of course, tigers were not a daily occurance, for whole 
months w'^ould go by without news of one. , ■ . i 

One morning a woman who had gone down to the river to draw water 
disaoDcared The bucket she carried was found nearby, and in t-he sand 
tell-tale foot-prints of an enormous tiger. The news of the killing spread 
like wildfire, and the village was soon thrown into a panic, for no one knew 
who would be the next victim. The judge was appealed to and forthwith 
organized a hunting party. They followed the tracks of the tiger mto the 
iunele and found the clawed body of the poor native woman, but the slayer 
was not to be seen anywhere. They hunted all the morning without any 
luck and returned dishearted to the village at sundown. 

The next day a boy and his sister were carried off, and so on for a week 
or more each day adding another victim to the merciless thief. The village 
folk dared move from place to place only in strongly armed parties. It is 
well known that a tiger will seldom attack a band of people unless it is very 
hun<rry and there are no men in the party. The situation was becoming 
desperate The Judge sent for the Colonel of a neighboring regiment who 
was an experienced tiger hunter, to advise him. The two consulted as to the 
best method of destroying the man-eater, for the week's events showed that 
it was a more than ordinarily clever brute. , , ■ , • 

After dinner the two men sat out on the veranda smoking and drinking 
coffee -md while talking the Colonel thought he saw a shadow moving 
amon^ the bushes. On looking closer for several seconds he became convin- 
ced thtt it was but a trick of the moonlight. A few minutes later, however, 
he saw the shadow again more distinctly. The servant behind him ceased 
fannino- and both men turned their heads to see the reason. In an instant 



STORIES OF TIGER HUNTING 

they realized their danger, for the expression on the servant's face was fear- 
ful. His eyeballs were nearly starting out of their sockets, while his body 
was stiff with terror. They looked in the direction the man was staring and 
beheld a pair of devilish green eyes watching them. Neither of the men 
had arms ready and their situation was critical. The tiger knowing that it 
was discovered without waiting a second sprang at them with a roar. Both 
Englishmen escaped injury, but the wretched servant was seized by the tiger 
and dragged off the veranda to the flower-beds below. The man's screams 
had roused all the servants and they fled in terror, jabbering like apes. One 
of them in his haste slammed the compound gate after him. The tiger was 
not expecting this move, for it made him partially a prisoner. The walls 
were not very high, but the brute could not leap over them with a man in its 
mouth. 

Now the native's wife who was close at hand heard his screams, and 
seized a heavy kitchen knife she rushed at the tiger and plunged it in to the 
animals throat. The beast roared m fury and struck out with its left paw. 
It caught the woman in the back killing her instantly. The Colonel and the 
Judge who had recovered from the shock now rushed to the scene and sim- 
ultaneously emptied their heavy army revolvers into the brute. The hail of 
lead bullets was too much even for a tiger, and with a last roar it toppled 
over dead. 

Lanterns were procured and the tiger examined. The servant was 
found to be absolutely unhurt, for he had been seized by his clothing, but 
his poor wife had her back broken in several places while the tiger's claws 
had made fearful wounds on her head and side. Henceforward the village 
had peace, for the career of this man-eater was at an end and the incident 
was soon all but forgotten. 

When a tiger pest appears near a village all energies are turned towards 
encompassing its destruction, for neither man nor beast is safe where it lives. 

On one occasion a splendid tiger was seen lurking near a cattle com- 
pound, and the authorities forthwith pronounced its doom. The village 
huntsman was detailed to the work and in a few days he rid the place of the 
brute in a most ingenious manner. He found a path in the jungle which he 
knew the tiger used on its way to drink, and he laid a trap for it. 

Near sundown, some yards from the trap, an Axis deer and its mate 
and young one appeared leisurely eating grass. Soon the male deer became 
uneasy sniffing the air suspiciously. The birds ceased singing, the monkeys 
climbed to the tops of the trees, and the hunter felt sure that the tiger must 



STORIES OF TIGER HUNTING 

be close at hand. He was right for a moment or so later a splendid creature 
sprang out of concealment without making a sound. The deer escaped, but 
the do^e was borne to the earth by the tiger's claws. The brute leisurely ate 
the carcass while the hunter lay in hiding watching it not fifty yards away. 
When the tiger had finished its meal naturally it felt thirsty. It rose, 
yawned, stretched itself lazily like a cat and moved off down the path towards 
the river exactly as the hunter had calculated. 




Now the trap set for the tiger was a clever one. The hunter had 
collected a number of large leaves and had covered them with a peculiar 
kind of bird-lime, made of sugar, linseed oil, and a number of other things, 
all boiled together. This preparation is well know in India, and is extremely 
sticky. If a person gets it on his hands it is sometimes weeks before all 
traces can be removed. The hunter had covered the path with these leaves 
for quite a distance, and owing to their color they looked innocent enough. 
The tiger reached the edge of the leaves and trod upon some of them, and 
they instantly stuck to its feet. The beast looked troubled, and tried to 



STORIES OF TIGER HUNTING 

scrape the sticky things off on its sides, but this only made matters worse 
for the leaves soon plastered its sides. Then it rubbed its paws over its eyes 
as a cat would do. This was what the hunter wanted. In a few minutes 
the tiger, blinded and roaring with rage, rolled over and over on the ground 
in its struggles, until it looked like a big ball of leaves. The brute was 
soon exhausted and lay helpless, and the hunter came up and drove his knife 
through its heart. — Truly a dog's death. 

Of course, this is not considered a very sportsmanlike way of killing a 
tiger, but the rule is that the first thing to be done with a man-eater is to kill 
it the quickest and easiest way possible. 

Quite often tigers have been trapped in heavy wooden cages, well 
concealed with grass and branches from trees. At the far end of the trap a 
large mirror is placed and so arranged that the rays of the sun reflect on it. 
The flash of light attracts the tiger and it comes up to examine more closely, 
and then it sees its own reflection. On the floor of the trap is placed a board 
which acts on a spring, and the instant the tiger goes inside and steps upon 
it the trap door falls and the animal is a prisoner. Natives then come and 
lift the cage on to a wagon and carry it oft'" in triumph. 

In hunting a tiger does not always have its own way. Curiously enough 
it is often baulked of its prize by a band of insignificant monkeys. When 
these little creatures discover a tiger, if they feel in the mood for it, they 
begin to mob the beast. They follow the tiger throwing branches of trees 
at it or fruit, or any thing else they find, shrieking and chattering all the while. 
Every creature in the jungle knows that a tiger is at hand and makes off to 
a place of safety. The tiger, as a rule, slinks away, for it is no use it can- 
not climb trees and punish its tormentors. 

The true sportsmanlike way of hunting the tiger is from the back of an 
elephant. Although in many instances men have gone out accompanied 
only by one native and shot tigers on foot. It is exceedingly risky and a 
man must be very sure of his nerve before he does so, for to miss a shot 
means instant death. 

At a regular elephant hunt a number of beaters, armed with sticks and 
drums go on foot looking for the tiger and making a great noise to frighten 
it. The hunters shoot the game from " howdahs " or saddles on the 
elephants' backs. 

On one occasion a party consisting of a number of hunters and three 
elephants were beating a track of long jungle grass. The tiger, for they 
knew one was not far off, was found lying beside a low rock. The animal 




AN ELEPHANT FLUSHING A TIGER. 



STORIES OF TIGER HUNTING 

did not move until the first elephant almost trod upon it. It sprang at the 
men in the houdah, but missed its footing and fell upon its back right in 
front of the elephant. A single shot from a rifle killed it. The body was 
found to be nearly eleven feet long, which is large for a tiger. 

On another occasion a tiger upon being roused from its lair made a 




superb spring and 1 mded upon the elephant s head The elephant trumpeted 
in terror and did its best to shake its enemy off. For a few minutes the 
tiger seemed to be getting the best of it, until the elephant encircled its body 
with its trunk and literally tore it off. The hunter upon the elephant's back 
fired a shot point blank, and the tiger broke loose and attempted to run away. 
It could only go about about a hundred yards however for its right shoulder 
had been shattered. It sank exhausted to the ground. The elephant, mean- 



STORIES OF TIGER HUNTING 

While, smarting from its injuries was roused to fury, which only those who 
know the elephant can appreciate. Disregarding its marhout s voice it 

charged on the dying tiger ^ . . - - 

and Hterally danced upon its ^ 

body until not a spark of life 

was left. This elephant was 

never any use for hunting after 

that, as it was always ready 

to run in a panic when it 

smelled its dreaded enemy. 

When an elephant is 
seized with panic nothing can 
stop it, and any one who 
happens to be upon its back 
at the time never forgets the 
ride. It is said that an 
elephant that has once been 
clawed by a tiger is never safe 
to use again, at least for hunt- 
ing, for it seems to lose all 
its nerve. When a tiger at- 
tacks an elephant it is usually 
in front, and trunk bears the 
brunt of the battle. This is 
unfortunate, for the trunk of 
an elephant is constructed of 
a mass of tiny nerves and is 
by far the most sensitive part 
of the animal. Some hunters 
take the precaution of covering 
their hunting elephants' trunks with a loose sort of armor, made from the thick 
skin of crocodiles. This armor is exceedingly tough and slippery, and 
allows no grip for the tigers' claws. 

As a rule, when the tiger hears the hunt coming it pricks up its ears 
and Ustens to make sure in which direction its enemies lie, and then slinks 
oft another way. In case it is surrounded it will lie in wait until the line of 
battle comes quite close, and then with a roar it will dash through the ranks 
of beaters, and the process of cornering will have to be begin again. 




GORILLA HUNTING 

Paul Du Challiau the great traveller and naturalist, who died in the year 
of 1903, vvas the first white man to discover the existence of the Gorilla. 
While he was exploring in the Gaboon Country, on the West Coast of Africa, 
the natives told him of a mighty ape, and of its great strength and height. 
He could see for himself that they held it in the greatest dread. At first he 
could hardly credit their stories but he was soon convinced when the natives 
took him into the forests and showed him the creature alive. 

Later Du Challiau returned to Europe and gave the great men of science 
an account of this strange anmial. He was laughed at, treated with scorn and 
called a liar. If you examine history carefully you will find that this has been 
the fate of nearly every man who has made a new discovery, or visited some 
unexplored land. After a while, when the facts were proved, the scientific 
world did net apologize and admit that it had been mistaken, but simply 
ignored its first blunder. However Du Challiau was not to be put off so 
easily, and he forthwith returned to the Gaboon Country, and succeeded 
in killing a few gorillas and returned to Europe with the skins, and a huge 
skeleton. Now the majority of the museums throughout the ' land have 
stuffed specimens of this great ape which you may see any day. 

Gorilla hunting, looked at from any side, is a dangerous business, and 
doubly so if an attempt is made to catch a specimen alive. A story is told 
of a hunter who managed to kill a gorilla and this is what he says. 

He took a number of natives as escorts and guides, and travelled many 
miles into the forest. Now one of the first things that struck this traveller 
was that in this country animal life was exceedingly scarce, and this was 
curious because the Gaboon Country is situated in one of the hottest parts 
of Africa where every place teems with life. It is supposed that the gorilla 
will not let anything live near it, for even birds that live in the tree tops are 
silent and hard to find. 

It was not long before the gorilla was discovered. The great ape was 
heard roaring as it crashed through the undergrowth and soon it appeared 
walking on its feet like a chimpanzee. The nearest man to it was a brave 
native hunter, who stood at one side in case of a frontal attack. The white 
hunter had been told to reserve his fire until the brute came quite close, for 
a bullet at a long distance would not have any deadly effect. 

The gorilla was sly and came slowly forward as though it did not see 
an enemy at its side, but it suddenly swung round and charged the native, 
who tripped over a root, and the next instant the ape was upon him. The 
gorilla seized its victim by the neck and shook him only once, and then let 



GURILLyV HUNTING 

the dead body fall. This seemed to rouse its rage for it advanced on the 
t of the party roaring and beating its chest. When only a few yards 
from it enemies it rofe to its full height, its devilish gray .^es darting 
Zee of hatred The hunter fired and the bullet passed into the shoulde . 
fid a th me instant the ape charged. Two more carefully aimed shots 




were put in without seeming to have any effect at all except that of rousing 

the brute to still greater fury. y ^a ih.i 11nlp^<^ 

The hunter was now thoroughly frightened, for he realized tha unless 
a vital spot was hurt they would probabely all be killed The gorilla soon 
recognised the white man as its chief enemy and charged him._ The brute 
came so close that it gripped the rifle barrel and twisted it in its hands as 
thou-h it were made of lead pipe. The hunter backed away and seizing 



GORILLA HUNTING 

another rifle from a trusty native who was close at hand, sent a ball 
crashing through the ape's skull. It gave one roar and tumbled head fore- 
most on its face. The body twitched for several minutes : and not one of the 
natives would go near it until they could be sure that it was really dead. 
They got a long pole and turned the body over and over to make sure. 
The height of that gorilla was just a little short of seven feet! 

One of the greatest dangers in gorilla hunting is that sometimes the ape 
is so silent that it does not give any warning before it attacks, 

A hunting party was stalking along Indian file in the forest, and paused 
for a few moments for breath. It was then noticed that one native, who had 
been in the extreme rear of the line, was missing. Before the others could 
search for him they heard a rustling in the leaves, and the poor man's body 
fell to the ground. The gorilla, in this case, was a female and had a baby 
with her. She had watched the party approach and had let them all pass 
beneath her but the last one. This man she had seized so swiftly and 
quietly that he had not even time to cry out, and none of his companions 
were aware that he had vanished. 

After a stubbon fight this gorilla was killed, and the baby was carried 
off in triumph. On the way to England the tiny gorilla grew fond of a bull 
terrier and the two became great chums, playing together for hours in the 
cage. The poor beast did not live long in the damp English climate, and 
died of consumption, although every possible care was taken to preserve 
its life. To this day, though everything is though of in the way of having 
the houses steamed heated and the foundations built on dry ground, but 
few zoological collections can boast of possessing a live gorilla. 

All hunters and explorers who have met the gorilla in its native land 
agree on one point, and that is that the stuffed specimen gives no idea of the 
apparent height, or looks of the brute when alive in its own forests. It 
would be hard to picture a more fiendish looking creature. Its eyes are 
shifty and cruel, while its cheek bones and eye brows are large and lowering. 
Its teeth stick out, giving it a most ferocious look. When alive it appears 
to be much larger than it really is. Its great breadth of chest and length of 
limb seems to shrink up w'hen it is dead. The color of its fur is black but if 
you look closely you will see a slight slate-grayish tint running through it. 

The West African natives declare that the gorilla is easily a match for 
the lion and that whenever the two come together the lion always gets out of 
the way as quickly as possible. Futhermore they declare that even the 
elephant will not face the gorilla willingly. 




A GRIZZLY SWEPT AWAY BY AN AVALANCHE 



A HUNT FOR A GRIZZLY 

A mining prospector, who was also a great hunter, while locating claims 
camped in a wild canon of the Sierra Nevada mountains, near the Needles 
in California. Late one afternoon while seeking a place to pitch his tent he 
came upon a band of Indians, who told him that a few hours before they 
had passed a gigantic grizzly bear. They pointed out as nearly as possible 
the spot where the brute had been seen, and then told the hunter that he 
had better go and kill it. Wishing him good luck they passed on. 

Before daybreak the next morning the hunter started off in quest of his 
prey. He soon came to the tracks of the bear and followed them up into a 
dark canon. Presently he came across a cluster of bees buzzing angrily 
around a tree stump from which their nest had been torn. This was a sure 
sign that the bear could not be far off. The hunter pushed on rapidly, but 
he was not prepared for what happened next. On turning a corner he 
suddenly found himself face to face, with a huge grizzly bear. 

The beast was sitting up on its haunches licking its paws, which were 
still covered with honey from the bees' nest. For an instant the bear gazed 
in astonishment at the hunter; and then, growling angrily, started toward 
him as though quite ready to eat him up. The hunter shouldered his rifle 
and fired, but missed a vital spot, and only succeeded in making the brute 
furious. It was not a good place for a fight, so the hunter ran back as fast 
as he could, pausing only to fire once more; and this time the bullet entered 
the animal's chest, but did not disable it and so end the attack. 

The hunter was now desperate, and as a last chance ran in among the 
pines. The bear, in spite of its bulk and its wounded chest dashed between 
the trees after its enemy as nimbly as a cat. Once only did the hunter gain 
any advantage, and that was when the bear stumbled over a fallen tree trunk. 

The hunter had managed to cross a narrow ravine when suddenly he 
heard a crash and a roar overhead, and before he realized what was happen- 
ing, an avalanche was well started. He scrambled near a big rock for safety 
and looked back just in time to see the bear swept off its feet and go rolling 
down the hillside amid a shower of rocks and snow. The bear made frantic 
efforts to gain a foothold, but without success. 

After the dust had subsided and the rocks had ceased falling the hunter 
crept down in the path of the avalanche. Near the bottom, almost buried in 
the snow, he found the bear lying dead, its claws sunk deep in a pine branch 
to which it must have clung as it went down. The hunter took the skin 
home, damaged and torn as it was, as a memento of his most exciting 
experience in the Sierra Nevada mountains. 



POLAR BEARS AND ESQUIMAUX. 

A scientist who had gone up to the lower sea coast of Greenland to 
hunt for rare sea birds and plants, spent a large part of his time living in 
the huts of some friendly Esquimaux. When he was able to understand 
their language a little he found that most of their talk was about fishing and 
hunting. He heard wonderful stories from the lips of the little men who 
had sailed out into the rough sea in tiny canoes called "kayaks " to spear 
seals, and also of others who had been carried off on great pieces of ice that 
had broken from the floes and had never been seen again. 

The more he heard, the more he longed to see some of the wonders, and 
experience the dangers. The little men laughed when he told them his 
wishes and promised that he should have plenty of excitement before he 
went away. The first thing the hunter had to learn was to manage a kayak, 
which seems a crazy enough craft at first but in reality is very seaworthy. 
Then his host, took him out upon expeditions to hunt seal and walrus, and 
he realized at once that the little people had not told of half the risks they 
ran. Every instant he had to be on the watch to prevent the frail kayak 
from being crushed between the floating masses of ice. 

That morning there did not seem to be any seal in sight and the reason 
was soon apparent when they beheld a hugh Polar bear marching leisurely 
across a small ice floe. Immediately both men paddled in its direction, and 
the bear, hearing them, turned and snarled angrily. The Esquimau passed 
quite close to the bear and fearlessly plunged his spear into its shoulder. 
The brute roared with pain and tried to tear the spear out with its teeth, but 
it only succeeded in breaking the end off short. It then made a sudden rush 
to the end of the ice and leaped into the water. When it came to the surface 
it struck out for the rocky shore which w as about a mile away. The two 
kayaks went off in hot pursuit. Without warning the bear suddenly dived 
and in a few moments appeared alongside of the Esquimau's kayak. The 
brave little man attempted to drive another spear into the bear but the bear 
was too quick for him and brought its paw down heavily upon his shoulder. 
The hunter, who was about thirty yards away, lifted his rifle and fired. The 
recoil toppled over the kayak, and from the way he was fastened in, he had a 
narrow escape from being drowned. As it was he was none the worse 
except for an icy cold bath and the loss of his rifle which, of course, had 
sunk. As quickly as possible he made his way to the Esquimau and found 
him lying back in his kayak bleeding and senseless, his left arm dangling 
uselessly by liis side. The bear floated alongside, the bullet having passed 
clear through the back of its skull. 




THE DEATH OF A THIEF. 



HIPPOPOTAMUS HUNTING 




The hippopotamus or hippo as it is pfenerally called, is another mighty 
animal that is rapidly being exterminated by man. At one time it was a 
common sight to see many hippos feeding together on the banks of the Nile 
as far north as Cairo but now they are never found beyond Khartoum, which 
if you will look at the atlas you will find is many miles to the south of the 
Mediteranean Sea. 

The strongholds of the hippos are the great Lakes in Central Africa, and 
the Zambesi River which forms the northern boundry line of the Transvaal. 
Dr Livingstone tells in his book how he cnce saw hundreds of hippos on the 
Victoria Nyanza. Many hippos are still found on the west coast along the 
banks of the Senegal and Niger Rivers. 

The hippo is a huge creature weighing many tons. It is stupid and 
vicious and more or less lazy. Its body is oily, fat and very dense, Its brain, 
eyes and ears are small but its mouth is enormous. It feeds chiefly on the 
grasses and weeds growing in the water. The hippo's legs are short but it 
can run quite fast. Its toe nails are shaped like a chisel which enables it to 
climb up the slippery river banks. 

A certain hunter tells a story of surprising a hippo asleep in the shade 
of some bushes. The creature was so alarmed that it rushed away as quickly 
as it could and plunged off a bank twenty feet high mto the river making a 
tremendous splash. In any country where hippos are not constantly hunted 
they will come out into the meadows to feed and wander far afield. They 
are not often attacked by other creatures for they are big and powerful and 
owing to their thick skins very difficult to wound. Besides they stay where 
the ground is marshy and that makes an unsafe battle field. 

The native hunters are wonderfully expert in killing the hippos. The 
usual method is for two men to go together armed with lances which have a 



HIPPOPOTAMUS HUNTING 



,,»^:!9SvS!''^7S6. 





line and bladder float attached. They swim up close to their victim and 
plunge the lances in. The hippo dives at once and remains under water 
some minutes. The hunters then get a second pair of lances and if they 
have luck plunge them in too. The lances have very sharp bladt|S and are 
weighted at the end so that every movement of the hippo makes the wound 
deeper The bladders attached to the lines float on the surface and show 
where the hippo is lying. At last, weakened by its struggles ^-^"d loss of 
blood the creature dies. Ropes are attached to the lance lines and the body 
is hauled ashore by many willing hands. 

Sometimes when a hippo is attacked at short range it will climb out ot 
the water and charge its enemies on land. It is a very unwise movement 
for the poor creature is then much easier to kill for it is clumsy and cannot 
turn quickly. The natives plaster its eyes with clay or sand and then they 
have it at their mercy. 

Hippos are wonderfully good swimmers and moreover they are able to 
walk along the river beds in search of food. When they sleep they float in 
the water with nothing but their nostrils sticking out. If anything alarms 
them they dive at once and when they come to the surface they show nothing 



m ^mm ^mmm m i 




HIPPOPOTAMUS HUX FIXG 

but their snout, eyes and ears and as the head of the hippo is very flat it can 
cret these sense organs out of water without showing more than two or three 

inches of flesh. 

Shooting hippos is a very difficult and unsatisfactory sport, for a rifle 
bullet will hardly do any harm if fired into the body. The only place that 
they can be shot is in the brain which being exceedingly small and well 
protected between the ears renders the task doubly difficult. Again when a 
hippc dies its body sinks to the bottom at once. 

A hunter who was travellmg alone on a tributary of the Zambesi River 
tried to capture a small hippo but the mother was close at hand and soon 




o-ot the youngster into the water. The current was very swift and the little 
hippo, winded by its rapid flight, could not swim against it. About a quarter 
of a mile away were some rapids towards which the little hippo was borne 
with its mother trying to overtake it. The hunter ran down the bank and 
climbed out on to some rocks hoping to head the pair off". The baby hippo 
after vainlv struggling was swept over the falls. The hunter was armed 
only with a heavy revolver consequently he did not get either of the pair. 
The hippo is very vicious and will sometimes charge canoes and upset 



HIPPOPOTAMUS HUNTING 

them, killing the rowers. It is never safe to navigate any river where hippos 
live. Crocodiles and hippo's live in peace together as one is a flesh eater 
and the other feeds on vegitables, but sometimes the hippos for some reason 
or other drive the crocodiles away. The upper and lower front teeth of the 
hippos are very long and contain magnificent ivory which is distinguished 
from the elephant's by the fact that it never turns yellow. The flesh is 
good to eat but it is tough and oily, nevertheless many native tribes 
consider it a great delicacy. The skin of the hippo is black and greasy 
and is about two inches thick. The whole hide weighs about six hundred 
pounds and often more. The african natives make whips out of a single 
piece of skin, and they are said to last forever. 

Sometimes a prowhng leopard is foolish enough to risk its life in trying 
to steal a baby hippo. When the thief is successful the distress and fury of the 
old mother are fearful to behold. She rushes from place to place in a path 
of distruction looking for her lost one. A hunter once saw a leopard creep- 
ing upon a baby hippo and he watched to see what would happen. Waiting 
for a good chance the leopard sprang upon its prey. The baby hippo 
screamed and struggled and the leopard lost its foot hold. Before it could 
recover itself however the old mother hippo was upon it and crushed the 
thief between her powerful jaws. 

Bull hippos are very quarrelsome among themselves and frequently 
o-reat battles take place, especially at night. A hunter tells a story of meet- 
hicr some hippos in a very narrow stream. He fired at a bull and wounded 
it "^ There was not enough water for it to dive so it reared its head in the 
air and bellowed. Blood was soon pouring from its nostrils and at the sight 
another bull attacked its wounded comrade. 

The brute seized the wounded hippo by the throat just as a bull dog 
does when fighting, and the two swayed back and forth in a frantic struggle. 
The bullet had passed close to the brain of the wounded hippo and it soon 
weakened and finally died. The hunter had climbed out on to the bank for 
safety and not a moment too soon for his frail canoe was swamped by the 
waves caused by the struggles of the two giants. 

Sometimes when hippos find them themselves cornered they get in 
a panic and all rush in one direction. Nothing stands in the way of such an 
onslauo-ht, and before now huge crocodiles have been overwhelmed and 
trampled to death in an instant. Trees and bushes are crushed as if they 
were so many weeds and the ground round about looks as though a cyclone 
had swept over it. 



HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANTS 

Years ago in India elephants were shot right and left, simply to get their 
ivory, and it looked as though the great creatures would soon become 
extinct. Then the Indian Government stepped in and put a stop to the 
slaughter. Elephants are now shot only under special circumstances, for 
practically all the herds are the property of the goverment. 

The African elephant is even worse off than its Indian brother, in the 
matter of protection, for Africa has not, as yet, any government worthy the 
name of civilized. Consequently the slaughter goes merrily on. Experienced 
travellers tell us that in a few years the African elephant will be entirely 
extinct. It is to be hoped that measures will be taken to protect some of the 
herds before it is too late. It is a well known fact that districts on the East 
Coast of Africa that had large herds of elephants a few years ago have none 
to-day, and the blame is almost entirely to be laid at the doors of the white 
man. A single hunter, armed with an express rifle, can soon kill an elephant, 
or even several in a day ; whereas, it takes half a native tribe to run down 
and kill a single specimen. This satisfies them for some days, as the meat 
thus obtained lasts quite a long while. 

There are three ways in which the elephant is captured. First, by native 
hunters ; second, by white men who shoot it : and third, where entire herds 
are trapped alive, and then taught and trained to become beasts of burden. 




nUXTIXr. AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANTS 

Let US examine the first. Certain wild tribes far up the Nile, borderinLT 
on Equatorial Africa, hunt elephants on horseback and also on foot. 

A traveller gives these two accounts of what he saw. The Hamran 
Arabs, a brave and warlike tribe, use horses in their hunt. Mounting the 
fleetest beasts they have, they start for the long grass where the elephants 
are usually to be found. They first send out scouts to locate the herd, and 
see that they do not scatter. The hunters always try to attack the animals 
suddenly, and from several points at once. They dash bodly forward and 
tackle the nearest at hand. These men arm themselves with long, heavy, 




double-edged swords, which they wield wnth great dexterity. They gallop 
among the elephants, shouting and yelling. The big beasts become panic- 
stricken and try to get away. The object of the natives is to slash the 
elephants in the lower part of the legs and try to hamstrin- them. Once the 
tendons are cut the elephant is helpless, and can be killed at leisure. Only 
brave men can follow this sport, for the wild elephant is very savage and 
cunning, and can run like a steam-engine. 

The same traveller relates that while visiting other tribes he had an 



HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANTS 

opportunity to see a hunt conducted on foot, where the natives tried to sneak 
upon their game. It is ahiiost comical to see a huge elephant rush away in 
panic from a couple of yelling, naked savages. It seems easier to hunt the 
elephants on horseback than on foot, but in the latter fashion the hunter is 
really much safer, for he can turn and dodge and take advantage of cover 
more quickly than when on horseback. More than one hunter has lost his 
life through his horse obeying the rein just a second too late. 

Some of the African tribes kill the elephant in an ingenious manner. 
They find a pathway leading to some drinking pool where they know the 
elephant come down at night. They dig a pit deep enough to prevent the 
elephant from scrambling out once it has tumbled in. At the bottom of the 
pit they place an upright, sharpened, wooden stake, smeared with poison. 
The mouth of the pit is then covered over with branches, and earth is thrown 
on top ; the whole made to look as much like solid ground as possible. This 
scheme appears to be very simple, but it reality it is not. The elephant is 
wonderfully clever at detecting false ground, and if it suspects there is any- 
thing wrong it immediately stops and.carefully feels around on all sides. If 
it finds a pit it drags the entire covering off, so that all of its fellows are 
warned. Moreover, the elephants will forsake that path forever. This has 
been proven over and over again. The elephant's sense of finding rotten or 
unsafe ground is all the more wonderful when it is remembered that they do 

most of their traveling 
in the night. It is a well 
known fact that the 
elephants cannot be 
induced to cross a 
bridge that is too weak 
too support their 
weight, and no amount 




flot 



:ging 



will make 






them move a foot. 

Another point 
which makes elephant 
pits objectionable is 
that it takes many 
natives, several days to 
construct one, and if 
the elephant finds out 



HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANTS 

what is going on, the scheme will be is so much work thrown away. 

On one occasion the chief of a native tribe constructed a large elephant 
pit The next day he came down with a number of his warriors to see if 
there was any game in it. He found only one small part of the top covering 
disturbed and kneeling down he peeped in. There was a loud roar and the 
next instant the chief screamed and disappeared head first through the open- 
ing The warriors rushed forward and tore the covering away. They 
found that the pit contained a beautiful leopard. They soon killed it with 
their spears, but not quickly enough to save the chief, who had already been 
clawed to death. It is not an uncommon thing to find several wild animals 
caught in a trap in this way. Here however, in spite of the leopard being such 
a good climber, it could not get out. It could gain no foothold in the soft, 
crumbling earth. The walls of the pit showed evidences of its frantic efforts 
to get out, while the hole was to deep for a spring. 

Another hunting scheme used in Africa is this. The natives take a 
baulk of wood about ten inches in diameter and about five feet long, tapering 
at one end. At the thick end they place a sharpened barbed spear head, 
covered with deadly poison. This is suspended from a tree branch over a 
path that elephants are known to use. The end of the suspension cord is 
cleverly concealed, and brought down so that it crosses the path about a foot 
from the ground, and so arranged that when an elephant passes underneath 
it, the cord is broken, loosening the heavy piece of wood which promptly 
falls, burying the poisoned barb in the animal's shoulder or back. But even 
here the elephant is alert and often shows its shrewdness by spying the trap 

before it is too late. 

It is the demand for ivory that is causing the destruction of the elephant, 
and already ivory is much higher in price than it was years ago. Whenever 
man runs short of anything he is sure to invent a substitute. Now, in the 
case of ivory a clever vegetable imitation has been placed on the market. It 
so closely resembles the animal product that ordinary people cannot tell the 
difference. Of course, it is much cheaper than animal ivory, and this fact 
may yet save the elephant. The ivory from walrus tusks is worth more 
than that of the elephant, because it is whiter and keeps its color better. 
Walrus tusks are small and much harder to get, and therefore more costly. 

The shooting of elephants has to be done just right, or disaster ensues, 
as the following story will show. A hunter in Uganda in Equatorial Africa 
tried to bring down, with a single shot, an enormous bull elephant. He fired 
at long range, and the bullet failed to kill. Immediately the elephant 



HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANTS 

squealing with fury, charged the party of men. The hunter jumped to 
one side but his coat caught in some thick brambles. The elephant crashed 
past him but not quite close enough to do him harm. But the brambles 
were torn asunder by the elephant's great weight and the hunter was flung 
a couple of sommersaults, until he came against a tree with such force that it 
all but knocked his senses out. When he came back to consciousness he 
found that the elephant had been killed by his headman, but not before it had 
trampled two of the natives to death and scattered the remainder. The 
mangled bodies bore terrible evidences of the elephant's fury. 




Near the ear or brain pan are about the only places that a bullet will 
stop a rush. A certain writer tells a story of having seen an elephant killed 
so suddenly, while running, that it rolled over completely just like a rabbit. 
Its body came down with a crash that shook the earth and fell against a 
good sized tree which was snapped off a few feet above the ground as 
through it had been a sapling. 

The way in which elephants are taken alive is truly wonderful. First 
of all a huge corral, is made and surrounded by a stockade, built of the lagest 



HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANT 

lo^^ to be found. This stockade is immensely strong, for it is made to stand 
the rush of terror-stricken elephants. The stockade is covered throughout 
its entire length with branches so that the elephants do not notice that it is 
a trap The corral is V shaped. At the point of V there is a gate which 
ieads to a large enclosure. This enclosure has a number of smaller ones 
separated from the main corral by heavy drop gates. So much for the corral 
Now elephants are trapped in a curious manner. An old tame bull 
elephant, trained for the work, is turned loose in the jungle, and it promptly 
coes off to find a herd of its wild brothers. What yarn it tells them is not 
known but it is not long before the foolish creatures follow -the old bull. _As 




the herd marches along it gathers in stragglers from all points. This takes 
a good deal of time, and the old bull is often away sev-al days before it 
appears on its way back-to the corral. The trappers do not worry for they 
know that the old scoundrel understands its business. Sometimes the bull 
elephant will go off in a most roundabout way, as though it had to hunt its 
victims out of holes and corners. 

Men scouts are on the watch and soon report that the elephant herd 
has been sighted. Once the head of the herd enters the wide part of the V 
the trappers know that they have the game all but safe. Men are concealed 
the entire length of the stockade, on the lookout for accidents or any attempt 
to turn back*; If by any chance the herd wavers, it is scared on from 



HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELIiPHANTS 



behind by drums and horns and fireworks. Finall)' the old bull leads the 
herd through the narrow part of the V into the enclosure. When all are 
safely inside, the gate is quieUy let down, shutting them in. 

The old elephant goes to the top of the enclosure and passes out 
through one of the drop gates, leaving behind the herd it has betrayed. For 
a while the elephants do not notice anything amiss, but their suspicions are 
soon aroused, when they see men bobbing about on the stockade from which 
the tree branches are removed. Suddenly they realize that they are trapped, 
and a wild scene ensues. The elephants make frantic efforts to get out, 
while the men with yells, tom-toms and fire-works, drive them back. The 
very earth trembles with the struggle, and woe betide the stockade if there 
is a weak spot in it, but usually it has been built by experienced men and no 
accidents occur. Not infrequently an unlucky native loses his balance and 
^nlls into the yard where he is sure to be trampled to death unless he is as 
nimble as a cat and scrambles out. 

After a while the elephants begin to calm down. Soon all the green 
leaves are eaten up, and they become very hungry. This is part of the 
scheme, for they are deliberately starved to break their spirits, and render 
them more easy to handle. One by one ropes are passed around the great 
beasts and they are coaxed or dragged into the small enclosure and chained 
up. For days the poor animals struggle until it seems that they could not 
possibly live through the strain. No sooner are they humbled, and cease 
fighting when they are fed, well treated, and petted. The elephant has a 
remarkably large brain for an animal, and is very intelligent. It does not 
take it long take it long to realize that there is nothing to be gained by 
fighting, and it learns to behave itself and begins scheming like a boy. 

Each new elephant 
is placed between two 
tame ones and taught to 
work, and sometimes the 
lesson is not given with 
much gentleness, for the 
old elephants while mak- 
ing the captive do what 
they want, will butt tlie 
beast with their tusks 
with fearful violence. 
There is a Hindoo say- 





AN ALARM— ELFPHANTS \ND \ 1 lOLR 



HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANTS 

ing that is often repeated and that is that " It takes a year and the life of a 
man to break an elephant to burden." 

The greatest dread of the trappers is that the incoming herd may run 
across a tiger and be stampeded. In spite of its large bulk and strength 
the elephant is afraid of the great cat. The temptation to kill a baby 
elephant often proves too great for the royal tiger, and fearful battles ensue; 
for the elephant will protect its young from enemies with great bravery. 
If the outskirts of the herd are attacked the beasts are liable to scatter and 
become so panic-stricken that the old bull may not be able to get them 
together again for some days. 

Who tamed the first elephant is not known. On the wall carvings of 
the temples in India, built thousands of years ago, are to be found pictures 
of elephants with men upon their backs. Furthermore, elephants were used 
in Babylon and Syria, and history tells us that there were great herds in the 
armies of Alexander the Great and Hannibal. Again, elephants frequently 
fought other animals in the Roman arenas. The elephant is also a valued 
servant of the British army in India. Two of these great creatiirs will carry 
a mountain battery, wheels, carriage, gun and ammunition, over rough 
ground where no roads exist, nor horses can travel, but it is said that when 
the firing begins the elephant trembles and will not move forward an inch, 
and it has to kept well in the rear. 

Elephants do all manner of heavy work in India, and at times it seems 
foolish to have a man in charge, for the great creatures manage themselves 
so well. On many occasions they have shown that they have greater 
wisdom than their " marhouts " or drivers. 

An Indian resident told the writers that he had seen an old elephant that 
worked in a lumber yard, stacking great loads of teak wood. The elephant 
would get down on its knees and putting its tusks under a log would move, 
back and forth, until it got it exactly balanced. It would rise to its feet and 
slowly and gently carry the log to the pile. After it had placed the log in 
position it would go around to the end and cock its eye along to see if it 
were straight. If the log was out of plump the elephant would push it here 
and there with its head until it was satisfied. 

The elephant has a very tender skin, for so large an animal, and unless it 
is properly harnessed it will get " back-sore " in no time. Flies and mosquitoes 
cause it much worry too, and this leads the elephant to put wet mud on its 
back as a protection. Above all things the elephant loves water, and it is a 
wonderful sight to see a large number in together. The beast is a splendid 




Lil'li VMb U VI KING 



HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANTS 




swimmer and can go with its head out of water, or it can swmi completely 
submerged with nothing but the tip of its trunk sticking out to breath through. 
It is said that full grown elephants never suffer while swimming from the 
attacks of the crocodiles, for the big fellows can put up a good fight if 
compelled to. The Indian Crocodile however is noted too for its great 
strength and ferocity and it sometimes is foolish enough to quarrel with the 
the " tuskers " and generally with discredit to itself. 

On one occasion a small herd of elephants were splashing anout near the 
banks of a large river in Burmah and among them was one baby elephant 
not much bigger than a cow. The old mother kept a close watch to see that 
no harm came to her charge. But while the bathing was going on, a huge 
crocodile slipped up unnoticed, through the muddy water, and seized the little 
elephant by a hind leg. Its terrified squeals sent its big companions into the 
greatest confusion and excitement. Without waiting an instant however, the 
mother and the old bull leader charged. Meanwhile the baby was being 
dragged away in spite of its struggles. The mother seized the crocidle 
around the middle with her trunk and literally lifted it out of water and at the 
same time tore it away from its prey. Then the bull took a hand in the 
struggle and together the pair killed the huge reptile. The baby had one 
foot lacerated, while the father and mother were both badly torn and 
marked for life. A crocodile does not easily give up its life. 



ALL ABOUT LIONS 

The lion is not plentiful anywhere off the African continent. At on 
time it was found all over Asia, but it has been exterminated. A few still exis 
in Persia and China, but from India it has vanished entirely. 

The lion has none of the tiger's slinking habits, and is therefore mud 
easier to approach. In fact, at times it appears to expose itself recklessly. 
When a lion is disturbed it will come out fearlessly into the open to investi- 
gate. On the other hand, the tiger on hearing any suspicious noise will 
lie closely concealed. If it happens to be a powerful enemy, such as an 
elephant or an armed man, it slinks away like a shadow. 

Until a few years ago there were plenty of lions all over Africa, but they 
are rapidly vanishing. Since the white man started in to settle up the 
country the haunts of the lion have been invaded and the "King of Beasts" has 
been driven away or killed off. In fact, in certain regions of recently settled 
Uganda and Mashonaland, in tropical Africa the lion has entirely disappeared 
within eighteen months of the white man's coming. 

Sir Samuel Baker, a great hunter and explorer, who was an authority on 
matters relating to the dark continent stated his belief that within a century 
not a lion would be left alive outside the zoological gardens, for the 
killing is going on far too rapidly to allow a single specimen to be left. The 
building of railways makes it easy for man to reach the hunting grounds 
where before it was very difficult. 

Children often ask "which is the stronger, the lion or tiger?" It is not 
a fair question, for the two animals can hardly be compared. It is true that 
while they are both members of the cat family, and are mighty hunters their 
habits are entirely different. For instance, when a tiger springs upon its prey, 
it buries its claws deep into its victim's back and tries to bite it in sorne vital 
spot, such as the neck. Again, the tiger inhabits the tall grass jungles. 
Now, the lion when it springs upon its prey deals it a powerful, smashing 
downward blow which generally kills at once. Moreover, the lion is not 
found in the forests, but lives in the open country among the sand-hills and 
scrub bushes. The lion is about the same length as the tiger, that is, from 
eight to ten feet long, but on the average it weighs more. In ferocity and 
strength they are about equal although the tiger is the more wantonly cruel 
of the two. You do not often hear of a " man-eating- lion." 

The lion in captivity is a poor, thin, slab-sided creature compared to the 
royal beast in its native home. The male lion has a splendid mane about its 
neck which during battle serves to protect its throat and jaws from its enemy's 
teeth. In a wild state the lion is a perfect picture of beauty and strength. 



ALL ABOUT LIONS 

Its huge muscles stand out like cords, while its fur has a satiny gloss which 
is never seen on the caged animal. 

An engineer who had but recently arrived in Uganda, in Central Africa, 
knew nothing of the lion or its habits except what he had picked up from his 
friends and his native servants. He made it a daily custom to walk to- 
wards a mound after the evening meal was over in the camp, to watch the 
sun go down. Darkness soon spreads over the sky in the tropics. 

On the night in question it was not many minutes before the camp fires 
shone out clearly. Suddenly the sound of distant rumbling reached his 
ears. In an instant he knew that for the first time in his life he was listening 
to the roar of a lion. The whole air seemed to vibrate, and all around him 
when silence reigned the air seemed heavy until the roar broke out again. 

The engineer heard a step behind him, and on turning his head he found 
his trusty body servant fully armed. The native, who was an experienced 
hunter, knew that his master had gone out without his rifle and that he might 
be in danger at any minute. " Let us lie down," said the native." and we 
shall see the king. May be you will get a shot at him." The pair concealed 
themselves near a rock and waited. The roar broke out again, coming 
closer and closer all the time. Suddenly one roar louder than all the others, 
ended in a sort of a whine. The native knew that the lion had ' winded ' 
the dreaded ' man smell.' 

After a silence of many minutes broken only by the sound of some dry 
twigs as if being trodden on by a soft but heavy footed creature, the engineer 
poised his rifle across a rock ready for instant use. The silence was terrible, 
and the man felt as though he was surrounded by creeping lions. The play 
of the moonbeams among the shadows seemed to cause them to take shapes, 
all having a tail and four legs. After a moment or two the native gripped 
his master's wrist. The man's eyes followed those of his servant just in 
time to see a lion step out into the moonlight. The brute knew that it was 
close to its enemies for it was snifting suspiciously. The engineer steadied 
his nerves and moved his rifle into position. The barrel glanced in the moon- 
light, and the lion seeing it crouched without a sound. Its muscles became 
rigid and ready for any movement. The engineer got a good sight right 
between the creature's eyes and when the native whispered " Now " the 
rifle rang out. Before the smoke had cleared they were both rolled over by 
the lion as it sprang past them. They scrambled to their feet as quickly as 
they could. When the dust and smoke had cleared away they beheld the 
lion coughing miserably. The bullet had gone low and had passed through 




NIGHT ATTACK BY A LION. 



ALL ABOUT LIONS 

the throat and lungs. In a little while it rolled over dead. 

The shot brought all the men from the camp, and great was the 
rejoicing at the engineer's success. It took the latter some time, however, 
to remember where he was ; for no man can be kocked down by a lion and go 
unscathed. When daylight came he found the shoulder of his coat torn 
and a claw mark on the stock of his rifle, as neat as if it had been chiseled 
out. This served ever after to remind him of his first lion hunt. 

The lioness gives birth to quite a large family, often six and seven cubs 
at one time. When they are big enough the mother takes them out with 
her and they are taught to hunt. The little fellows act exactly as the parents do, 
and after a few weeks instruction they learn to kill the smaller and slower kind 
of deer. If an enemy should approach while the lioness is so engaged she will 
fight desperately to protect the family, never hesitating to sacrifice her own 
life when necessary. Directly the cubs are big enough to take entire care 
of themselves the parents send them off and have no more to do with them. 
They must become independent and hunt alone. It takes a lion several 
years to attain its full growth and strength. 

Animals have many senses much better developed than man. For in- 
stance, cattle in some mysterious way seem to be aware of a lion's presence 
long before man has had the slightest inkling. Some experienced hunters 
claim that it is the sense of smell, but perhaps the truer reason is that the 
cattle bring a far more subtle and wonderful sense into play. 

One night after a stock karal, near Bulawayo, had been closed for the 
night the animals huddled together in the centre as if in mortal terror. The 
ranchmen loaded their rifles, not knowing what might turn up, and kept 
watch. Nothing happened for a couple of hours and they were just about 
to give it up and go to bed when the cattle became more and more uneasy, 
until with a loud roar a lion sprang over the fence. The cattle stampeded at 
once, but the lion seized a calf in its jaws and got away safely with it before 
the ranchmen could do anything to prevent it. 

Cattle karals are never free very long from such attacks, for the temptat- 
ion of so many fat helpless beasts together is too great for any lion. 

It is almost impossible to trap a lion, for it will never enter any cage to 
secure a bait no matter how hungry it is ; nor will it cross pitfalls, and no steel 
trap was ever made that will hold an enraged lion. In fact, among animals 
the lion's sight and smell are excellent, and that is saying a good deal. 

Sir Samuel Baker tells a story of his killing a large deer and leaving it 
where it had fallen until daylight. Early the next morning, taking his chief 




A LION AND ITS QUARRY. 



ALL ABOUT LIONS 

huntsman with him, he went to the place where the body had been left, and 
found that it had vanished. The ground all about was covered with the 
foot-prints of a lion. They followed the tracks until they came to a cave 
with a narrow opening. They crawled in on hands and knees, pushing their 
rifles in front of them. As they could smell flesh they correctly surmised 
that they were literally in a den of lions. Suddenly they found themselves 
face to face with a magnificent lion. The animal glanced at them in surprise, 
and with a deafening roar vanished. The hunters found that there was a 
second outlet to the cave. The half eaten body of the deer was found inside 
the cave, and they cut the head off and carried it back as a trophy won from a 
lion in its lair. The tiger would never have been frightened off in that 
fashion, but would have stood its ground and attacked its enemies at once. 

Perhaps the greatest battles lions ever engage in are with the great 
Cape buffalos. 

On one occasion a hunter who was lying in wait for game heard far off 
^^sounds of lions in mighty combat. The hunter ran in the direction from 
which the noise came and beheld two lions and a lioness trying to" pull down 
a tough old buffalo. They fought over a couple of acres, and the stones and 
clods of earth flew in all directions. At first the lions would appear to be 
getting the best of it, when the buffalo would shake off one of its enemies 
only to have it attack from another quarter. After a while the buffalo badly 
injured the lioness and trampled her under foot. At this the two lions be- 
came furious, and succeeded in bringing their prey to its knees. The old 
buffalo fought desperately, but its enemies were too powerful. With one 
frantic effort to get away it sank on its knees and then on its side, while the 
lions tore at it until the last spark of life had vanished. The lions soon fell 
to quarreling over the body, and the hunter taking good aim stretched the 
largest one out stone dead. The second lion bounded away into the 
tall bushes. The hunter found the lioness with a broken back, so torn and 
battered that he shot her to put her out of misery. The lion which he had 
first killed was also badly mangled. The ground around was trampled out 
of all recognition, and large pieces of fur and hide were found in places. 
The poor old buffalo had weakened from the loss of blood, for its shoulders 
were torn into ribbons. 

The same hunter a few months later saw a pair of lions attack a much 
larger buffilo. The lioness sprang upon the buffalo's head and an instant 
later was crushed to the ground. The buffalo then turned its attention to 
the lion, a splendid full grown fellow and they battled for an hour or more 



AT, I, ABOUT LIONS 




At last the great horns of the buffalo tore a hole in the lion's flank and took 
all the fight out of it, and it turned tail and ran away. The buffalo was 
aroused to fury and rushed after it, but could not catch up. It then turned 
to wreck vcngence upon the body of the lioness, tossing it up on its horns. 
When it was sure that there was no life left in the lioness it went off bellow- 
ing victoriously. To be sure a buffalo does not always come oft best in a 
fight, but it never fails to make the battle remembered by its enemy. Both 
sides usually batter themselves to pieces. 

Lions are able to move over the ground very carefully and swiftly when 
their great size and weight is considered. A lion will creep up to within 
five yards of a zebra, while a man would not get within a half a mile, for the 
zebra is one of the most cautious of creatures. A lion will steal into a camp 
and strike a man down before he finds out that he is in danger. As we 
have said before a caged lion gives no idea of the strength, grace and beauty 
of the king of beasts when at home in the desert. 

If you will let a fox terrier run through the lions' house in the Zoolog- 
ical Gardens you will see the sleepy brutes suddenly become all attention, 
their muscles will look as though there were coiled springs in them, their 
green eyes will glisten, and their whiskers bristle. Then one gets a faint 
impression of what a real live lion is like. Try the experiment some day if 
you get the chance. 



STORIES OF GIRAFFES 

The giraffe is a peaceable animal. One has only to look into its beautiful 
dark eyes to see that. Its weapons of defense consist of its long legs and 
neck. The legs carry their master off at a great rate when danger is near, 
while the long neck raises the head, like a tower from which it can always 
watch out for enemies. The long neck of the giraffe is necessary so it can 
reach its food, for it feeds mainly on mimosa leaves, which grow some fifteen 
feet or more from the Qround. 

The tongue of the giraffe is a wonderful organ. It is long and very 
flexible. The creature seems to allow its tongue to come out between tightly 
compressed lips, then rubs it around any leaves or twigs, which are carried 
into its mouth. The girafte eats food from the ground with great difficulty- 
In fact, it never tries to unless there is no food to be had anywhere else- 
When attempting to pick up anything near its feet the giraffe straddles its 
legs far apart and cranes it neck down making a complete triangle of itself. 

The giraffe is not the sort of animal in which one expects to find much 
pluck. But sometimes, especially when it sees its young in danger the 
giraffe will attack its enemies fiercely. 

On one occasion a herd of giraffes had come down to a swamp to drink, 
and while there a crocodile that was hidden in the mud suddenly seized a 
little baby giraffe by the foreleg and started to drag it toward the water- 
The old giraffes attacked the crocodile vigorously, kicking it and trying to 
prevent its backing away from the land. In spite of the soft ground the 
giraffes were remarkably quick in getting out of the way of the flail-like 
blows of the crocodile's tail. Few people know that the crocodile has 
immense strength in its tail, and if it were to swing it squarely against the 
legs of any animal, such as an ox, they would without doubt be broken. But 
to return to the giraffes. The crocodile had succeeded in reaching the edge of 
the swampy water, dragging its victim with it. The poor parents were be- 
coming frantic, when suddenly the male kicked the crocodile close to the eye, 
while the female gave it a kick in its ribs, and to avoid being rolled over the 
crocodile let go its hold on the little giraffe's, leg, who instantly scrambled 
out of harm's way. 

The crocodile recovered itself, and angrily snapping its jaws, waddled 
off in the water in great disgust at having lost its prey. 

The hunter who witnessed the fight sent a shot crashing through the 
crocodile's skull causing it to roll over on its side. The herd of giraffes ran 
off with lightning speed, but the little calf had been so badly mangled that 
it could only limp along. The old parents remained close to it, but it was 




THE GIRAFM.S KICKING OFF A eROCoDlLb 



STORIES OF GIRAFFES 

easy to see that they were wild with terror, not knowing \v'hat instant they 
might be shot too. However, the hunter did not fire at them. 

Around the crocodile's body had already gathered a dozen vultures, 
patiently waiting until its struggles should cease before beginning their feast. 

For so large an animal the giraffe, is very quick in its movements, and 
can jump forward, or halt without a moment's hesitation. Futhermore it 
shows considerable cunning in face of danger. 

A certain hunter relates an instance where he saw a giraffe swinqin^'- 
along at a sharp trot. As it passed between some trees a leopard sprang 
from a lin.b where it had been hiding. The leopard did not spring true, for 
it landed too high on the giraffe's neck. The giraffe seemed to stumble and 
fall to its knees, and the leopard was flung clear over its victim's head. The 
hunter in thinking the matter over afterwards decided that the giraffe had 
stumbled deliberately, hoping thereby to shake its enemy off. 

The leopard is too small an animal to be always successful in attackin<i- 
such large game as a giraffe, and while its claws are very sharp and power- 
ful they may not hit a vital spot. 

Without doubt the worst enemy of the giraffe is the lion. The defense 
of the giraffe is not of much avail against the weight, strength and claws of 
such a beast. Moreover, the lion is after all a coward and likes to tackle 
the easiest prey. The giraffe is a large creature and furnishes the lion with 
several meals, and it is not very difficult to bring it down. Unless a lion 
springs squarely on to a giraffe's back it is very liable to be kicked off". 
Tigers and lions always roar when they spring, hoping thereby to paralyze 
their victims with fright. A leopard, on the other hand, springs silently, 
which makes it more to be feared. 

A hunter tells of seeing a full grown lion stalk a bull giraffe. The lion 
was careful to keep down wind from the giraffe, and as it crept closer and 
closer it seemed to be just a shadow on the ground. The giraffe walked 
forward some hundred yards or more until a bush was between itself and 
the lion. This was the latter's opportunity, for it crept up within springing 
distance without being seen. The lion crouched, its muscles standing out, 
drawn tight with the tension, waiting its chance. Suddenly it sprang with 
a roar and gripped its victim close to the neck. The giraffe started ofi" at a 
gallop but it was of no avail, for the lion had a firm hold and its powerful 
claws sank in deeper and deeper until from exhaustion caused by loss of 
blood the giraffe stumbled on its knees and fell over dead. The lion sprang 
lightly aside and stood looking at its handiwork. 




A LYNX'S ATFACK UPON AN IBEX FAM1L\. 



A FIGHT BETWEEN AN IBEX AND A LYNX 

Some of the Lynx family seem to prefer living in the mountains to the 
forests, and seldom come down to the valleys unless badly pressed by hunger. 
Lynx are often found far above the snow-line, which averages ten thousand 
feet in height. 

On one occasion a hunter had been trying for several hours to get near 
a lynx whose form he had made out with his glass as it was stealthily moving 
over the rocks in search of food. The lynx had not seen the hunter, or it 
would have made off to a place of safety but it appeared to be uneasy, as 
though it felt some danger was near, for perhaps a whiff of the dreaded smell 
of man had reached it. 

Suddenly the hunter npticed that the lynx stiffened like a coiled spring, 
as if it had sighted some prey. All thought of its man enemy was forgotten, 
and the hunter crept up closer and closer without causing the animal the 
least alarm. From the high elevation which the hunter had reached he finally 
saw what was exciting the lynx. Not a hundred yards away stood a fine 
Ibex watching over its mate and little one who were feeding close by. The 
lynx moved forward until it reached a slight elevation, from which, without 
making a sound, it sprang, fastering its claws in the neck of the mother ibex, 
who promptly rushed away, trying to shake off her foe. 

Now an old ibex is by no means a coward, and he has an ugly pair of 
horns to fight with. This the lynx soon found out, for the ibex sped after its 
mate, who was running almost in a circle, and with one butt of its horns 
knocked the lynx off head over heels. Not content with this, it followed up 
its advantage with a second blow, which sent its enemy rolling over and 
over down the slope. The lynx got on its feet at last, but too late, for the 
ibex had returned to its mate and little one. 

In the interest of the scene the hunter had forgotten to use his rifle, and 
so lost a chance at some fine game. 

It is not often that an ibex has such good luck, but on this occasion the 
lynx evidently had not gotten a good hold. Once a lynx gets its claws fairly 
in, it hangs on like grim death, and although its enemy may bang it against 
the rocks or even take it under water, it will not give up until its victim's 
strength gives out and it drops dead. 

A lynx prefers to attack a single ibex, for then its work is naturally 
easier. Most of the mountain goat tribes, however, go in small herds, or 
families, and if a lynx sees a flock of them with a number of horned males, it 
leaves them alone, as an attack would simply scare the flock and the lynx 
might get badly mauled. The lynx knows enough to await its chance. 



THE CHHETAH AT WORK 

The Cheetah or Hunting Leopard is a long legged member of the cat 
family, hailing from India. It seems to be a bit leopard, bit serval and bit 
panther. It stands higher on its feet than the leopard but it is not nearly as 
strong nor as canning in its ways. 

The cheetah has been trained by men for hunting purposes, using 
somewhat the same method as with our greyhound in coursing rabbits. The 
cheetah is carried to the hunting field blindfolded, and often in a cart for the 
sake of handling it easier. It is chiefly used to run down deer. When 




oame is si-hted a hunter creeps forward holdmg the cheetah in check with a 
slip-knot bandage. As soon as the pair come within striking distance of the 
herd of deer, the hunter slips the bandage from the head and eyes of the 
cheetah. For an instant it is bewildered but it soon catches sight of its 
prey. It approaches the deer in two ways; either it stalks up to them in 
cat fashion, or else it makes a dash for the nearest buck. The speed of the 
cheetah is very great and it can even catch a deer with a short rush, provided 
the latter does not get too much of a handicap at the start. 

Directly the cheetah seizes its prey the hunter runs up and entices it 
away from the body with a ladleful of blood, or else a rag soaked in blood. 
With a badly trained, or young cheetah, it is sometimes hard work to get it 
to give up its prey. The' size and strength of the cheetah forbid its being 
kicked off like a dog; it must be humored. 




O 

W 

o 
o 



POLAR BEARS. 

Without doubt the " King of the North " is the great white Polar Ik-ar. 
This animal is famous for its great bulk, its strengtli and its magnificent fur. 
It is a terrible fighter and allows no enemy to encroach upon its domains. 

The only other animal that can be said to pretend to rule in the north 
is the mighty walrus. 

The story is told of a trial of strength between two bears and an old bull 
walrus. Now the walrus is easily twice the size and weight of a polar bear 
and is armed with two enormous tusks. A number of cows and calves were 
out sunning themselves upon the ice when two polar bears approached and 
decided that one of the little walrus calves would make a nice dinner. The 
cows became uneasy and the old bull shuffled from side to side and bellowed 
warnings to the two intruders. At length the cows got the calves into the 
water and swam away but the old bull was not to be beaten off so easily 
and stood its ground. 

The bears seemed disgusted at seeing their prey get away and made up 
their minds to be revenged on the old bull. They slowly advanced from 
opposite directions as though by agreed plan. WMien one bear was within 
striking distance it rushed upon the walrus, but the Litter was ready to meet 
the attack. Rearing up to its full height, it came down upon its enemy 
w ith all its great weight. It tried to drive its tusks through the bear's back 
but it slipjied and missed its blow. The second bear now joined the struggle 
and sprang upon the back of the walrus, but the latter's skin was so thick 
that its teeth and claws did it but little harm. 

The thixe floundered about in ponderous battle and the ice was soon 
running witli blood. I'he cows were much excited and drew nearer to see 
the fight, and they swam around the trio in threatening fashion. Neither 
side seemed to be getting much the best of it. 

y\n unexpected turn came however. The combatants in the course of 
their struggles had worked towards the edge of the ice when suddenly it 
broke beneath their weight. The two polar bears sprang away in an 
instant and scrambled on to solid ice, while the wr.lrus slid off into tlie water. 
This was a Licky turn for the bears for had they gone into the water there is 
no doubt but that the old walrus and his family would have killed them in 
short order. 

The old bull now rose to the surface bellowing furiously, and seemed to 
be anxious to continue the fight for it tried to climb out onto the ice again and 
get at its enemies, but the polar bears had had enough of it and beat a hasty 
retreat growling angrily. 




CAUGHT IN THE ACT! 



POLAR BEARS VERSUS SEALERS 

Part of the crew of a sealing vessel landed from their ship and attacked 
a rookery of fur-bearing seals, and killed a large number of them. Then the 
men fell to skinning the catch. They had been at this work for sometime 
when suddenly the leader gave a cry of alarm and the others, on looking up 
from their work, beheld three polar bears ploughling through a small snow 
field and coming directly towards ihem. 

The men were only armed with clubs so there was nothing for them to 
do but to make a hasty retreat to their boat. The polar bears must have 
scented the slaughter, for when they came up to the bodies of the seals they 
went no further but began to feed, growling from time to time as if to warn 
the men to keep away. 

The leader of the boat's crew would not consent to give up his whole 
catch so easily, so he had the skiff rowed quickly to the ship and returned 
armed with a rifle. The leader had the boat rowed close up to a rocky 
projection upon which the largest bear stood ; then steadying himself he fired 
at close range. The shot passed through the fleshy part of the throat with- 
out doing the bear much harm except stinging it. The leader saw that the 
bear would charge and he yelled to his rowers to " back water." The men 
were slow in obe\ ing, and furthermore a stray eddy swung the boat close to 
the rock, and disaster was inevitable. The bear jumped from its higher 
vantage ground into the boat and its great weight swamped it in an instant. 
The leader was instantly killed by a terrific blow on the head and three of 
the rowers, having heavy sea boots on, went down to the bottom Hke stones. 
Meanwhile the smash up had been sighted from the ship and a second boat 
put out at once and picked up four of the men who had m.anaged to keep 
afloat. The bear swam to shore again and prepared to beat off any of its 
enemies that attempted to land, for its wound had roused it to fury Curiously 
enough only one of the three bears took part in the fighting, for had they all 
come to the attack they could have held off the entire ship's crew. 

The second boat contained the captain of the ship and . he was more 
cautions. He fired at the bear and the shot passed through its heart and 
lungs. The great creature flung up its head and gave forth one peculiar sound, 
between a cough and a sob, and rolled over on its back dead. The other 
two bears, seeing their mate slain, then hastened away and allowed the men 
to land and gather up their seal " pelts." 

It is not an uncommon thing for boat parties to be attacked in this way. 
The polar bear has an excellent sense of smell, and you must remember that 
the scent of flesh travels a long way in those icy regions. 




POLAR BKARS FIGHTING. 



A LEOPARD STORY 



A gentleman lix'ing near Agra in India was very proud of a Great 
Dane dog that he owned. This dog was a great pet with the soldiers in 
the camp, and it is doubful if there was a finer specimen in all India. Now 
you must know that dogs of this breed are very large and strong and when 
attacked usually beat their enemies off easily. 

One evening the gentleman while out walking on the edge of a small 
lake near a jungle heard his dog growling fiercely. He went in the direction 
of the sound to see what Was the matter and found that his dog had flushed 
an enormous leopard. Neither had made any attack, but the instant the 




leopard saw a man approaching it made up its mind and sprang so quickly 
that the dog was taken by surprise. The leopard seized the dog by the 
throat and by dint of claws and teeth bore it to the ground. Before the m.an 
could interfere the leopard had regained its feet without loosening its hold on 
the dog's throat and literally dragged it off into the jungle. The dog strug- 
gled manfully to get away but in spite of its size it was no match for the 
great cat and it was never seen alive again. 

The leopard probably weighed less than the dog and if so this incident 
does credit to its enormous strength. Of course the leopard had an advantage 
in being quicker in movement and also armed with sharp teeth and power- 
ful claws. In one sense the chances of the pair were about even for neither 
can be said to have taken the other altogether by surprise. 




JAGUAR PULLING DOWN A TAPIR. 



ABOUT TAPIRS AND CAPYBARAS 

There are two animals, one large and the other small, living on the South 
American Continent that always seem to be having a hard time of it w ith the 
other creatures. 

The Tapir is a large inoffensive sort of a creature, with a snout between 
an elephant and a pigs'. While shooting in a forest on the upper Amazon 
a hunter came across the fresh footprints of a tapir. He followed them for 
some time until he came to an open space among the trees. There he saw 
the tapir standing as still as though it were made of rock. The creature's 
back was towards him, and the hunter could see that the poor creature 
attention was riveted upon a huge serpent, only a few yards away from it. 
The hunter was tempted to fire as he very much wanted a tapir, but he 
waited awhile to see what would happen. 

This hunter had been in many parts of the world, and from time to time, 
he had been lucky enough to witness the most terrific battles between various 
wild creatures, and he knew that in fecorcity and cunning displayed they 
surpassed anything man has ever dreamed of. 

The tapir could not take its eyes away from its dreaded enemy, while 
the great snake, on its part, was slowly coming down the tree trunk, each coil 
gliding so smoothly that the creature's body hardly seemed to be moving at 
all. The hunter thought each moment the snake would attack, but still it 
held off with the full consciousness of having its prey within its power. 

Suddenly the hunter observed the grass swaying, only a few yards on 
one side of the snake, and the tapir observed it at the same instant. The 
movement served to break the spell, for the tapir turned quickly as if to run 
away. A second later the grasses parted and a splendid jaguar sprang with 
a roar upon the tapir. It all happened so quickly that the hunter was taken 
by surprise. Then a curious thing occured. The jaguar had made a very 
long spring and had not got as good grip upon its prey as it seemed. The 
ground was marshy and the tapir slipped, either by accident or with deliberate 
attempt ; at any rate the jaguar was flung head over heels into the mud, and 
the tapir quickly scrambling to its feet, escaped. The jaguar gave vent to a 
roar of anger and prepared to follow its victim. The hunter saw his chance 
and quickly landed a bullet in the brute's neck. The jaguar turned on him in 
an instant, and before the hunter could step out of the way, for he too was 
standing over his ankles in mud, the brute knocked him flat on his back. He 
kept a grip on his rifle however and quickly getting on to his knees, sent a 
second bullet into the great cat, and this time the shot was fatal. The hunter's 
chest was torn by the jaguar's claws but he was not badly injured. It was 




JAGUAR STALKING CAPYBARAS. 



ABOUT TAPIRS AND CAPYBARAS 

some hours before he reached his camp, so weak A\'as he from loss of blood. 
The guides immediately went to bring in the jaguar's body, but they found it 
ruined, for the white ants were already at work. The claws and pads were 
were about the only parts worth saving. 

The Capybara is another creature that seems to be hunted day and night 
by its enemies. It looks like a water hog but still it is a rodent, and the 
largest of the family. 

One day a small herd of capybaras were slowly moving along the water's 
edge feeding quietly \\hen suddenly they were attacked by a snake. In 
Brazil is found the largest snake in the world — the Anaconda. This reptile is 
usually about twenty or more feet long, but specimens have been found 
reaching a length of forty feet. It was an anaconda that was attacking our 
capybaras. Two of the creatures were caught, one in the snake's coils, and 
the other was killed by a blow on the head. The rest of the herd took to 
the water at once and s^\•am across to the other bank. While they were in 
midstream they were attacked by alligators. First one vanished, then another 
until only two reached the opposite bank out of the orignial nine. 

The jaguar hunts the capybara at all times and it is lucky that the little 
creature has large families, or it would soon become extinct. Sometimes the 
capybaras choose to live near a small lake where there are no alligators and 
then they are safe for they are splendid s\vimmers, and can stay under water 
from eight to twelve minutes. They know a trick like the crocodile and the 
hippopotamus, and that is they can come to the surface and only put out their 
nostrils to breath, and then dive again. In this way they are able to stay 
undej water as long as they choose. 

All snakes, and especially the Anaconda, are good swimmers. The 
anaconda however does not often attack the capybara while it is swimming. 
The litde creature is more expert in the water than it is on land, and only it's 
aquatic equal could hope to seize it. If a jaguar comes near a herd of 
capybaras, they immediately run to the nearest water for the jaguar does not 
like to get its fur wet any better than the ordinary house cat. On more than 
one occasion, when a jaguar has been very close in persuit of a capybara, it 
has been fool enough to follow its prey into the water with the result that 
the capybara has made a deep dive, leaving its enemy on the surface, and 
then before the great cat could get to dry land it has had to reckon with a 
hungry alligator. The jaguar's teeth and claws make but litde difference to 
the horned-armed reptile, and usually it is dragged beneath the surface in 
short order, and drowned. 




WHERK 'nil-: MOOSE CO.ME lU DRixNK. 



THE MOOSE HUNT. 

A moose hunt had been agreed upon. There were only four in tlie 
party ; a hunter, a boy, and two backwoods Indians. Before sunrise in the 
morning the four had all their goods packed in a couple of canoes, and were 
off down stream to the moose-grounds. It was early in the spring and in 
places the snow still lay deep. The wind was biting cold robbing the sun 
of its warmth. At sundown camp was pitched near the moose-ground, and 
after a hot supper the men were ready to turn in. 

Any one who enters the great forest for the first time, — places where 
man seldom goes — is struck with the deathly stillness. A sense of loneliness 
creeps over the mind, for there is no hum of insects, no song of birds, not 
even the sighing of the breeze breaks the peaceful calm in the deep endless 
forest. There is not a hut or cabin, or human being within a long day's 
travel. 

Breakfast was served piping hot, goods were packed securely, and by 
sunrise the hunt had begun. The Indians dived straight into the woods, 
crossing lightly and swiftly between the trees. The snow began to deepen, 
snow-shoes were put on and the traveling was then easier. Suddenly the 
party came across some huge foot-prints. The Indians stopped at . | 
once and smiled grimly — here was the game. IJ 

The moose must have been an immense fellow judging by his ^ 
footprints, which traveled hither and thither, showing that the creature | k 
had been walking about. The chase now became swift and stern, ili | | 
The Indians kept up a killing pace and never once did they halt, or U 
even slacken until the boy caught his toe in a hidden rock and nearly 
turned a somersault. All hands had to wait for a few minutes while r 
the boy took the snow out of his eyes and got his second wind. In iJj 
starting off again the party came upon two sets of tracks, showing 
that there were a pair of moose ahead of them, and that they were moving 
swiftly. By-and-by a running stream was crossed and here the tracks 
ended. There were no foot-prints on the opposite bank and the boy was 
sure that this was the end of his moose hunt. The Indians separated at once^ 
one going up and the other down the stream. In a few minutes the up- 
stream Indian found the trail and signalled to the other to follow. 

The boy was beginning to find out that hunting in the Northern woods 
was hard enough work. The tiny icicles on the branches hurt his eyes until 
he looked as though he had been crying and his heart thumped against his 
ribs as if it would break. 

After about a mile of straight running the tracks divided. Here a halt 




MOOSE RUN DOWN BY INDIANS. 




THE MOOSE HUNT. 

was called and a hasty council of war held. It was decided that two Indians 
would take one trail, and the man and boy the other trail. It was not long 
before they came in sight of a fine bull moose. The creature 
scented them and trotted away at a great speed, but the 
nimble Indians followed the trail like a pair of wolves. 
Suddenly they came to a clearing in the forest and saw 
that their victim was in trouble. The moose had taken to 
the open and had gotten into deep snow. With a yell the 
Indians bore down upon the animal which was floundering in deeper and 
deeper. A few struggles, however, brought it where the snow was not so 
heavily packed and it looked as though the old bull would escape, but the 
Indians could make faster time over the snow than the moose. They 
managed to close up the distance until the leading Indian was not more 
than thirty yards away. He stopped short, raised his rifle, took a careful 
aim and fired. The bullet went true and the moose tumbled on its side 
badly hurt. The second Indian came up and put in another bullet. The 
moose was now furious and struggled to turn on its enemies, but its strength 
was gone. A third shot killed it. 

While all this was going on the man and the boy were running down 
the dead moose's mate, and finding it a hard task. They cornered their 
game among the trees. The moose faced them, showing fight. The man 
fired first and missed his shot, the moose charging at once, but the trees 
prevented it from reaching its enemies. The boy knew that if the brute was 
not quickly dispatched it would kill one of them. As the moose turned the 
boy steadied himself against a tree and took careful aim. He kept his head 
and did not fire until the moose was within fifteen yards of him, then he let 
go and immediately slipped behind a tree for protection. The shot was fatal, 
the moose reared up and then fell dead. The boy shouted in his excitement 
and thereby guided the Indians to the spot. They had been wondering how 
their guests had fared, and were surprised to find the 
moose dead. They thought that the best that the man 
and boy could do would be to tract the beast down until 
they could come and help kill it. There was rejoicing in 
camp that night, for two moose killed within an hour is 
good hunting. 

The Indians took their guests through another part of the forest two 
days later, but they did not come across any more moose. 

The boy has the head of his first moose finely mounted and hung in his 
room at home. 




A SCHEME TO KILL A WOLF 

A farmer who owned a small ranch on the outskirts of one of our western 
towns had been greatly worried by a clever wolf which had nearly killed off 
his small live stock. All sorts of means such as dogs, traps and poisons had 
been tried to get rid of the pest but so far they had not been successful. 

When the heavy winter snow came, and the ground was frozen hard, 
and food became very scarce, the wolf grew bolder and even approached the 
house, taking chickens, and on one occasion a dog, almost from under the 

m 




farmer's nose. Here was where the farmer saw his chance to get even, he 
would take advantage of the wolf's recklessness and destroy it. One moon- 
light night he tied a kid to a stake just outside his gate and then he himsclt 
lay in ambush with his rifle. The wolf soon heard the kid bleating and came 
up very cautiously to investigate. It was evidently suspicious however and 
kept carefully out of gun shot. Just as the farmer was about to give up in 
disgust the wolf threw discretion to the wind and made a dash for its prey 
with the result that it was shot down at once. 




HUNTING BABOONS 

The strone,diold of the Baboons is in Nubia and Abyssinia on the East 
side of the African Continent. The baboons do not chmb trees but live 
amono- the rocks. In one respect the baboons differ from other annuals, i hey 
have carried out the ideas of on-anization for protection to a high degree, and in 
our land only the bees and ants can compare with them. 1 he early history ot 
the baboon family must have been one of great danger 
and struggle, for such conditions soon teach any 
animal tribe that their safety and strength lies in unity. 
The colonies of baboons seem to have regular 
leaders, and then a few still higher leaders and one 
supreme head, generally a powerfully built old male. 
The baboons live in large bands among the rocks on 
the hillsides, and they are greatly dreaded by the 
natives. They will not molest a traveller unless 
he comes too close, or is armed, but at times they ^\■ill raid the villages or the 
gardens in large numbers, and the killed and wounded on both sides show 
how fierce has been the fighting. 

Some naturalists travelling in Abyssinia were most anxious to get 
specimens of these dog-like apes. They took experienced native hunters 
with them, and travelled all night towards the hills, and before sun-rise they 
had reached the hunting ground. 

When the morning mists broke the hunters saw the apes scrambling 
about the rocks. It seemed as though the whole colony was simply a large 
scattered band, and the naturalists w^ere inclined to disbelieve all the stories 
the natives had told them. But the native's information, as usual, was right, 
and in a few minutes proof A\'as at hand. 

Suddenly one of the baboons caught sight of the party of hunters, and it 
gave a peculiar bark. Instandy the whole colony was in an uproar. The 
baboons rushed to and fro, apparendy in great confusion, but it was soon 
clear that they were gathering the females and young 
ones together. These retreated hastily to safety among 
the higher rocks, and a number of males went along to 
act as a rear guard. Then the remainder, all full grown 
apes, under the leadership of a huge fellow, advanced to 
the attack. Ne\'er in their lives had the naturalists heard 
such a barking and yelling. They had planted them- 
sches near some large rocks in the best position, as they 
thought, but the apes advanced steadly upon them, 





ANGRY BABOONS. 



■''^*s 


.m^ 


^m 


n 


mM 


1 



HUNTING BABOONS 

cleverly taking achantage of any shelter, all except the old leader Mho stood 
out boldly in front, and seemed to be directing the others what to do. 

The men opened fire and the apes scattered, but only for a mnuite or 
so, for they gathered in force again, and hurled a 
shower of rocks at their enemies. The hunters were 
compelled to retreat, step by step. They had shot down 
quite a number, but the others came on just as fiercely as 
ever. The chief of the native hunters was lying full length 
on the ground, and one of the naturalists was injured. 
Matters were getting desperate when a lucky shot killed the 
bio- leader of the apes and this threw the others into a panic. They hurled 
one more shower of rocks, to co^'er their retreat, and then lied draggmg away 
their dead with them. The hunters then had a chance to pull themselves 
tooether and count noses. They found that the native hunter had a crushed 
skull and was stone dead, while one of the white men had an arm broken at 
the elbow, the result of a well aimed jagged rock. All the party were suffermg 
from scalp wounds and torn clothes. After all their trouble they had not 
secured a single baboon. 

The next day the leader of the party watched the baboons for long tmie 
with a field glass, and he saw that about five them were in desperate battle, no 
doubt for th? leadership of the band. A week later they were seen moving 
across the hillside in orderly procession with a new leader at their head. 

Some time later these hunters came across three baboons carrying corn 
and vegetables in their mouths. They had evidently been on a private forag- 
ing expedition of their own. There was a sharp fi\-e minutes fight and the 
rifles claimed all three. But for this piece of luck it is doubtful if the hunters 
would have obtained any specimens of 
the baboons at all. dead or alive. 

On another occasion a hunter found 
a tiny baboon asleep under a rock. He 
was very anxious to catch the little beast 
alive, so he took off his coat and threw 
it over the youngster and then grabbed it up m the fokK- 
He kne\\- that even baby baboons have terrible teeth 

The shrieks of the frightened baby aioused the 
mother who had been feeding close by. She in her turn barked loudly and 
in a few minutes a number of males appeared. They seemed to know exactly 
what was taking place for, ^^•ith angry barks, they came tearing after the 





BABOONS BEATING OFF HUNTERS, 




HUNTING BABOONS 

hunter. The chase was long and stern, and the hunter, at 
last, was compelled to drop the baby ape, but even this did 
not'suffice, for a large band of males still pursued him. 

The hunter, in his desperation, drew his two revolvers, 
and prepared to defend himself. The apes closed in on him 
and leaped upon him and though he fired quickly and 
accurately it availed him nothing, for he was literally torn 
to pieces. The apes hung around the blood stained spot 
for a few minutes, and then turned and went quickly back to their hills. 

There are several kinds of baboons, and all walk on their four hanas, 
and have powerful teeth, and bark something like dogs. The fiercest, largest 
and most terrible of the family is the Mandrill. This ape's face has brilliant 
blue and red streaks on the cheeks making it look very hideous. 

Baboons are awfully quarrelsome and have great battles among them- 
selves but still they cease all their wranglings when a common enemy comes 

in sio-ht They live alone, and allow no other animals to come near them. 
African travellers state that while one baboon is not such a terrible 

creature a band of them are more than a match for any other single creature 

in their country. This traveller had never heard of a case of baboons actually 

killing a lion, but nevertheless it is a fact that the mighty " King of Beasts 

does not go out of its 

way to pick a quarrel 

with these powerful apes. 
All baboons feed 

on fruit and nuts and 

roots, and never touch 

flesh. In their anger 

they may tear their 

enemies to pieces, but 

they will not eat the 

flesh. On the other 

hand the baboons are 

very gentle with their 

mates, and will fight to 

the death to protect 

them. They often play 
with their baby apes, like 
grown up people. 





A TAME BABOON. 




HUNTING BABOONS 

hunter. The chase was long and stern, and the hunter, at 
last, was compelled to drop the baby ape, but even this did 
not'suffice, for a large band of males still pursued him. 

The hunter, in his desperation, drew his two revolvers, 
and prepared to defend himself The apes closed in on him 
and leaped upon him and though he fired quickly and 
accurately it availed him nothing, for he was literally torn 
to pieces. The apes hung around the blood stained spot 
for a few minutes, and then turned and went quickly back to their hills. 

There are several kinds of baboons, and all walk on their four hanas, 
and have powerful teeth, and bark something like dogs. The fiercest, largest 
and most terrible of the family is the Mandrill. This ape's face has brilliant 

blue and red streaks on the cheeks making it look very hideous. 

Baboons are awfully quarrelsome and have great battles among them- 
selves but still they cease all their wranglings when a common enemy comes 

in si<dit They live alone, and allow no other animals to come near them. 
African travellers state that while one baboon is not such a terrible 

creature a band of them are more than a match for any other single creature 

in their country. This traveller had never heard of a case of baboons actually 

killing a hon, but nevertheless it is a fact that the mighty " King of Beasts ' 

does not go out of its 

way to pick a quarrel 

wnth these po\\erful apes. 
All baboons feed 

on fruit and nuts and 

roots, and never touch 

flesh. In their anger 

they may tear their 

enemies to pieces, but 

they will not eat the 

flesh. On the other 

hand the baboons are 

very gentle with their 

mates, and Avill fight to 

the death to protect 

them. They often play 
with their baby apes, like 
grown up people. 





A TAME BABOON. 




AOL DAD; 



HUNTING THE AOUDAD. 

A hunter who was travelHng in Algeria had heard nuich talk of the 
Aoudad. His Arab guides told him that this spendid game creature could 
only be shot with great difficulty. Now the aoudad is the largest and most 
powerful of the goat family, and loves the highest and rockiest places it can 
find, hence it takes great endurance to follow it. The hunter made up his 
mind however, that he would like to try the hunting at any rate, so an 
expedition was arranged, and after three or four days he found himself camped 
on one of the highest slopes of the Atlas Mountains. 

Taking a single experienced Arab with him, the hunter set out before 
sun-rise the next morning. They climbed together up a thousand or more feet 
above the camp till they came to a " hog's back " ridge, from which they could 
see around on every side of them. 

Slowly the sun rose and drank up the morning mists until the valleys 
below were clear. After looking intently for some time the Arab spied the 
game. The white man looked and looked, and yet, experienced hunter as 
he was, and used to our Western mountains, he could see nothing ; but in a 
few minutes he noticed some tiny brown patches moving among the rocks. 

The aoudads were three in number. Hastily seizing their guns, the two 
men went down the ridge on the off side, and scurried along to a place of 
better vantage. They hid behind a large rock and lay out panting for breath. 
From this place the aoudads Avere not more than half a mile away. The 
party was composed of a fine horned male, its mate and a little one. Slowly 
the trio came nearer, stopping from time to time to nibble the coarse grass 
which grew between the boulders. At last they got within gun-shot, but 
the hunters held their fire until they should come quite close. The two men 
were lying on their stomachs with rifles levelled and waiting in agonized 
suspense. "Now!" said the hunter, and bang w^ent the guns with one 
report. The female doubled up at once, but the big male was shot through 
the lungs. It gave a great cough and made a superb spring in the air ; then 
stumbled forward a few paces and fell dead. The little one was uninjured. 
The Arab was about to shoot it too, but the hunter stopped him. The hunter 
hoisted the kid onto his shoulder and carried it back to the camp. This baby 
aoudad was afterwards brought to the United States where it grew lustily 
and became so tame and playful that it would foJlow its master around like a 
dog. Everyone who saw the little creature fell in love with it, for it was 
very gentle in spite of its great strength. Only one thing it hated and that 
was the dogs. However it butted them so hard that, after a while they were 
only too glad to keep leave it alone, and keep out of its way. 




A GROUP OF CHAMOIS. 



HUNTING CHAMOIS 

Chamois hunting at the present day does not amount to much for the 
ordinary hunter, for the simple reason that the httle animal is becoming very 
scarce. The headquaters of the chamois are in the Swiss and Austrian Alps 
and when one considers how small those countries are and how thickly 
settled with gun-loving people, it is not surprising that the splendid little 
game-creature should have all but vanished out of many sections. 

A number of the mountains are, what you might call, game preserves, 
and there, of course, the chamois is protected lives and breeds, and is not 
shot to any very great extent. 

Hans Breit, a famous hunter, who probably knows more of the chamois 
than any man in Europe, gives this account of the methods of hunting. In 
the first place there is an idea in the mind of people that the chamois is ea.sy 
to get at, and can be " driven" like grouse or English pheasants, but this is 
all wrong. The chamois is remarkably keen sighted and its sense of smell 
IS equal good. These two qualities alone would make the hunting of any 
animal difficult, but when to these are added the chamois' love of high and 
unreachable places and the consequent danger in following it, it ,is easy to 
see that only men of strong nerve and cool head can undertake the shooting. 
On one occasion Hans spied a band of cham^ois coming down a 
mountain side to drink. He felt sure that nothing would alarm them so 
he set off with all haste, seeking the cover of rock and shadows and keeping 
down wind from the game. Slowly the herd come on, lead bv a fine male 
with good horns. But it was not long before the leader becam'e suspicious. 
It halted stamped its feet and sniffed the air suspiciously. But nothing 
stirred so the band came down to the water and all drank except the leader 
who stayed on watch. This was Hans' chance and slowly rising to his 
knees he laid his gun flat on top cf a low rock, and waited. The chamois 
leader was standing head on to him. He whistled softly and the creature 
turned at once to look, thus exposing its side. Bang went the gun and 
when the smoke had cleared away the band was seen running across the 
rocks in big leaps and bounds. But the leader had fallen behind ; it was 
wounded. An instant later it lost its footing and rolled out of sight. Hans ran 
to the edge of the rocks and saw the line made in the snow where the body 
had fallen. An hour later he reached his prize which he found stone dead. 

All hunters and travellers bear witness to the wonderful manner in 
which the chamois makes its way over the roughest ground. It seems to 
literally skim through the air. Hans said that on one accasion he slighdy 
wounded a chamois and failed to get a second shot before it was off He 




IHL LNU Ul A ellVMUl^ ilLM 



the chamois 
must e:o into 



HUNTING CHA:\I0IS 

ran after the httle creature along a ledge. At the end of the ledge was what 
seemed to him a sheer precipice, and he was greatly surprised to see the 
chamois make its way across its face and escape. He examined the place 
closely, and admitted that it would have puzzled a mountaineer, armed with 
an alpine rope and ice-axe to scale the face. This was in the days when 
Hans was young, and inexperienced but the chamois have had lots of 
chances since then to surprise him even more. 

The chamois seems to be able to stand almost any amount of cold and 
exposure, for it takes a winter of very terrible severity to drive it into the 
valleys for shelter; still this does occur once in a while. 

When you visit Switzerland and see no chamois it is no proof that they 
are not there. To 
find 

you ..._. ^ 
the less frequented 
mountains before 
sunrise, and if you 
have good luck you 
may catch a 
glimpse of a band. 

Chamois lo\ x 
their young one- 
very dearly ane 
will never forsake 
them. On one 
occasion a hunter 
surprised a mother 
chamois with two 
kids. Away she 
flew at once with 
the two youngsters 

after her, but they came to a place in the 
rocks that had to be jumped. It was too 
wide for the kids, so the mother without ^ 
waiting an instant, stooped down and 
allowed the little ones to scramble on to her ' 
back. Then she rose to her feet and sprang ^ 
across the chasm and made off in safety. 






CHAMOIS DESCENDING A MOUNTAIN. 



HUNTING CHAMOIS 



There have been many cases known where a kid has been wounded or 
shot dead and the mother chamois has refused to leave it. 

Swiss hotel keepers make a great fuss about the chamois till one w-ould 
think that great bands roamed around the neighborhood. As a matter of fact 
one hotel we know of, had a poor, miserable looking little chamois locked up 
in the stable, which was shown to wondering tourists on the payment of a fee. 

The chamois' praises have been sung all over Europe for many years 
and artists have drawn the animal in every possible way, and thereby given 
it quite a reputation In the countries that have bought their freedom so 
dearly, it has always been a emblem, — and a good one too — of " Liberty." 




There is a splendid member of the goat family found in our country, 
which might well be called the "American chamois." On the islands off the 
Pacific Coast good goat shooting can be obtained, but it is best where tourists 
are few in number and where the shooting is not advertised in the papers. 

On one occasion two hunters, young in years, but old in experience, 




lUl- L, -INKING, 



HLfNTING CHAMOIS 



Started off on a hunt on one of these islands. The night was clear and calm 
such as Pacific nights generally are, and a full moon gave the light. After 
toiling for many miles to the high ground where the goats' are usually found 
the hunters lay down and slept for two hours. The sea mist meanwhile had 
crept silently in and covered everything in a mantle of snowy white. 

With the first signs of a glorious opal dawn the mist began to roll up 
like a blanket and go out to sea. Then the hillsides were an.xiously scanned 
by the hunters and before long a splendid wild goat was seen feeding alone on 
a rocky ledge a mile away. In a very few minutes the two hunters were on 
the trail. It was hot work scrambling over the rocks, for the sun soon gains 
full strength in those latitudes. Still the goat did not seem to be aware of its 
danger. You must know that wild goats are very hard to approach. They 
find out in some mysterious way when they are in danger. 

Suddenly however the hunters found themselves confronted by a serious 
dii^culty. They came to the edge of ravine whose steep sides seemed to 
to almost unclimbable. The detour could not be made without the goat 
spying them, but still they had consideriably reduced the shooting .distance. 
The goat was still feeding quietly, not having the least idea that enemies were 
so close. A hasty consultation was held and the two boys agreed not to take any 
chances but to fire together. They separated about twenty feet and lay 
down beside some rocks. Both took carefully sights and on the word " three " 
the rifles rang out like a volley. In front and behind of the goat, two spatters 
of dust flew up, for both shots had missed. In an instant the goat was off", 
leaping across the rocks in wonderful fashion. In a few minutes it had 
vanished, leaving behind only the sound of the loose stones, which had been 
started by its flying feet, clattering down into the ravine. Overhead an eagle 
was screaming angrily at having its silent haunts disturbed. There is nothing 
very surprising in the fact that the shots missed, for the air in those islands is 
marvellously clear and the distance of an object is away is very deceiving. 

On the way home one boy shot a pretty little fox. They quietly brought 
it into camp and skinned it. That night there was corn beef hash for supper 
which was soon gobbled up by the large party and voted first class. But it 
was not lone: before someone remembered that there had been no flesh meat 
in camp, and that they were miles from any place where it could be bought. 
The Chinese cook was sent for, and with many grins and much jabbering he 
confessed that the corn beef hash was nothing in the world but the little fox. 
Then everyone said that they had noticed something wrong with the dinner, 
but nevertheless all had had platesfuls each until the hash had given out. 



HUNTING CHAMOIS 



However let us return to the goats. The next day, nothing daunted, the 
boys were off again. This time" they found a goat far above their heads 
feeding upon a place so steep that it looked as though no man could have 
found a firm foothold. The eldest boy fired, and to their great joy, when the 
smoke had cleared, they saw the body rolling head over heels down the slope. 
With a war-whoop they ran to get it and then found to their dismay that it 
was a tame ram ! There Avere large flocks of sheep on the island, and this 
fellow must have strayed away from the others. However the fresh meat 
proved most acceptable in camp and the hunters were not chaftcd very much. 
Now these boys were getting their blood up, and they swore they would 
get a goat if they sat up nights for a month to do it. Consequendy they were 
soon off again and tramped the whole day without seeing anything. But 
about three in the afternoon they suddenly came upon a big fellow not fifty 
yards away. The goat was much astonished, and it was evident that it had 
never seen a human being before, as it was some seconds before it took to 
flicrht Its short pause however cost it its life ; before it had gone thirty 
yards it was rolled over dead. 

It never rains but it pours ; after having had bad luck so many days the 
young hunter's prospects changed with a rush. While they were travelling 
nomeward a second goat was sighted, which, after a long and weary stalk, 
fell to a well aimed bullet. There was nothing left to do now but to return 
to the camp and get friends to come up and help bring the bodies in. Pract- 
ically the entire camp came along, and bore the two goats homeward with 
much rejoicing. That night, while sitting around the fire, a regular celebration 
was held. The second goat was a fine specimen with good horns but still not 
such a perfect beauty as the first. At supper time all were hungry and the 
Chinese cook "did himself proud" with the finest parts of the flesh and so 
made amends for his corn-beef-hash-outrage. 

The shooting took place just in time, for the weather changed the next 
day and the boat had to run " east " to get shelter. The two goats' heads are 
now mounted, and hang triumphanUy in the trophy room at home. 

You have to know something of the ways of goats before you can hope 
to do successful shooting. In the first place the rocks and hillsides are 
brown ; almost the same shade of color as the goat's fur. Consequently many 
an inexperienced hunter has passed a goat altogether simply because the 
creature has kept perfecdy still, and its protective coloring has hidden it. The 
goats however are fond of getting upon the edges of high places and they may 
be seen quite often standing out clearly on the sky line. 



FOX HUNTING 

You have to go to England to see fox hunting carried on properly. 
In the first place the hounds are carefully and specially bred and are famous 
for their great staying powers. Generally each county has one or more 
packs which are owned, or are in the control of, one master. He has a 
couple of huntsmen beneath him whose job it is to see that the dogs are 
cared for and well trained. 

Notice is given to those invited that a hunt will take place on such a day, 
at such a place and early in the morning. The men all collect, mounted on 
splendid horses, and the hounds are let loose from their kennels. 

Foxes always live in holes either in, or on, the edge of woods. One 
man goes in with a number of fox terriers and they soon 
turn the rascal out. The fox makes for the edge of the 
wood and the instant it breaks cover a watcher raises a 
loud cry. Immediately the hounds give tongue, and in a 
few minutes the whole pack is on the trail, while the men 
on horseback scramble over hedges and ditches as best 
they can. If the fox is an old timer it will have a regular 
round of resting or hiding places which it makes for. 
Then it has to be dug out and started off again. 

The hounds are never turned loose on top of the fox 
for they would tear it to pieces before the hunt could get 
The real excitment of the day is when the fox is run down in the 
open and the hounds catch up with it. All honor goes to the rider who 
first reaches the spot, or as they say " is in at the death." 

Foxes are up to all sorts of tricks to get away from their enemies and 
sometimes live in great security for many years. The writer has frequently 
seen a fox so old that its tail was almost white. Every pack of hounds in 
the county had hunted that old rascal over and over again and yet it lived to 
tell the tale. 

On one occasion a fox, being very hard pressed, sprang on to a flat 
car which formed part of a passing freight train. The crew of the train had 
slowed up to see the fun, and the fox took advantage of the slower speed. 
The hounds tried to reach it, with the result that a number of them were 
crushed beneath the wheels. When the fox had gone quite a distance it 
leaped to the roadbed again and made off in safety in the opposite direction- 
In Wales, where the hunting is frequently very good, a fox worked a 
great scheme on a pack of hounds and in one blow paid off every grudge 
that it had against them in all its years of being hunted. The fox on this 




started. 



FOX HUNTING. 

occasion too was very hard pressed and took to the railroad embankment. 
In the distance a fast express tram bound to London was racing along as fast 
as it could so. The hounds followed the fox on to the embankment. The 
huntsmen saw the danger and vainly endeavored to call the dogs off, but they 
would not listen with their prey within such easy reach. Now this fox was a 
shrewd fellow and this is how he served his enemies. Choosing his time to 
a second he ran across the tracks right in front of the express and the hounds 
followed. The fox hit the exact moment, for a instant later the express 
ploughed its way through the middle of the pack, killing or maiming two 
thirds of their number. 

Another favorite trick of foxes is to throw the hounds off the scent by 
breaking the trail. On one occasion a fox was seen to be rapidly but silently 
making its way towards a large flock of sheep. It ran straight through the 
middle of them. Of course the sheep scattered for a moment and then stood, 
as sheep will like idiots, staring in every direction but the right one. Bye 
and bye appeared the pack in full cry, and of course in following the trail the 
dogs rushed in among the sheep, and there was endless confusion. It took 
some time to get the hounds straightened out and then it was f6und that 
many of the sheep had been trampled on and killed. By this clever trick the 
fox gained at least five minutes headway. Foxes are skilful thieves. 
Farmers have a hard time keeping geese, ducks or chickens where foxes are 
numerous. They can easily outrun a dog and not infrequendy show their 
utter contempt for canines by taking the poultry from under their very noses. 

The fox and the weasel are perhaps the two greatest enemies that the 
rabbit has. The weasel patiently plods after its victim until it runs it down, 
but the fox is different in its mode of attack. It always catches its rabbits 
by a quick rush, and with its great swiftness of foot there is no hope for the 
bunny unless it can quickly get to cover. 

A fox isn't very hard to tame, and more than one English country house 
has one chained up to a kennel like a dog. At Ruperra Castle is a fine fellow, 
quite tame and friendly. But in spite of beatings and warnings it never has 
learned to leave chickens alone. The old roosters know the exact length of 
its chain and keep away, but the young birds, who won't heed their elder's 
advice, frequently stray within the magic circle and are sure to be pounced 
upon by the watchful one. 

Foxes have good sized families, often as many as seven young ones at 
a birth. If you go before daylight into the woods near a fox's hole, and 
watch closely you will see the family, if you keep very still. The old fox 




DIVIDED — FOX AND RABBITS. 



FOX HUNTING 



does most of its hunting in the night and sleeps all day, except when it is 
rudely disturbed by the hounds. 

The cubs are the prettiest little things in the world and wonderfully 
playful. They scamper about and roll each other over and over like kittens. 

The fox will always slink away from its enemies when it can, but if it 
gets cornered where it has to fight it will snap viciously. 




The vixen, especially if she has cubs, will fight for them with the 
greatest pluck. There is no wild animal in England large enough to 
tackle a fox so that it is not often called upon to defend its family. The 
fox has always been held by the English country folks to be the shrewdest 
and cleverest of all animals and not without reason, for once in a while one 
will get itself out of a tight place where escape seemed to be impossible. 




1 



ALARMED ! FOX AND RABBIT. 



THE GLUTTON AND THE FOX 

The opportunity of killing two birds with one stone does not often come 
into a hunter's life. Here is an account of rather a rare case. 

A trapper in the far north-west had been much troubled by a wolver- 
ine, or glutton, stealing the game from his traps. He well knew that without 
some great good luck it would be next to impossible to kill the beast; for the 
glutton is the cleverest animal in the two Americas. 

The hunter's first impulse was to take up his traps and move to another 
part of the country. He knew that to set poison for the animal was useless, 
for it would never touch it; and if he used a spring gun it would dig under- 
neath, fire it off, and steal the bait ; and to lie in wait for it with a rifle was 
also useless for the beast would smell him half a mile away. 

One morning when matters were nearly desperate he saw a glutton 
moving swifdy across the snow. Without any idea of catching it he followed 
the tracks. From the footprints he knew that it was not in a hurry. Follow- 
ing the trail he soon came across one of his own beaver traps sprung, and the 
snow round about all blood stained. The paws of the beaver were still held 
by the steel teeth of the trap, while the body lay mangled and useless on one 
side. From that he knew that the glutton was only mischievous and not 
hungry. Farther on the foot-prints stopped short as if the animal had paused ; 
then they started again going at a right angle. In a few minutes he heard 
sounds of a great battle raging not far off. Hastening along swifdy, but 
cautiously in the direction of the noise he came upon a sight that filled him 
with astonishment. A large fox was caught by the forepaw in one of his 
traps. A glutton was making a great eff'ort to kill the fox, who in its turn 
was making a desperate fight for its life. This time the glutton seemed to 
have lost its reason for it was leaping around the fox trying to get at its 
throat, but the latter kept it off, snapping fiercely. The hunter saw his 
chance and lying flat on the ground, raised his rifle, took aim and fired. The 
glutton sprang up with a snarl and ran off but its footprints were full of blood 
and this gave the hunter hope. Less than a mile off he found the beast 
crouched at bay on the lower limb of a fir tree. In spite of the drip, drip of 
its life blood on the snow it was full of fight, and its eyes and t;eth gleamed 
wickedly. One more shot was enough, and with a spasmodic cough the 
beast dropped head foremost from its perch. The skin measured nearly five 
feet in length, though skins always stretch when reniOvca from the body; 
Still it was a very large glutton. 




—^^^ A FOX CAPTURING A CAPERCALZIE, 



FOX AND CAPERCAZLZIE 

The Capercalzie is a splendid game bird \vhich is found all over North- 
ern Europe but chiefly in Norway and Sweden. It is the giant of the 
grouse family. It is colored black but here and there white and red appear 
in bold dashes. The cock is a much finer bird than the hen. During the 
mating season the Capercalzie behaves in a very extraordinary manner. Soon 
after sunrise it perches on the top of a pine tree and begins a song to attract 
the attention of the hens. During the song it thrusts its neck out, droops its 
wings, erects it tail and altogether works itself up into a great state of mind. 
As soon as a hen hears the song she comes running up to see the singer. 
Other hens also collect and then the Capercalzie comes down from the pine 
tree and parades about on the ground for their benefit. In this way 
the Capercalzie collects his family for the season. The Capercalzie becomes 
so absorbed in his love making that he may be easily approached. If any 
alarm is given it is nearly always by the hens. The enemies of the Caper- 
calzie know his weakness in mating time so they take advantage of it and 
the worst of these enemies is the fox. The Capercalzie does not roam all 
over the forest, but stays in one place which is called the" station" but it is 
always near an open space, a sort of parade ground, consequently the bird 
often escapes being killed because the distance from the fox's hiding place is 
too great for it to spring. Directly the fox makes a successful catch the 
capercalzie screams and struggles and the hens scurry off to safety. 

Sometimes a rival Capercalzie tries to entice the hens away and then 
there is a battle royal in which one of the cocks sometimes gets killed. A 
hunter who was watching a Capercalzie show himself off before some hens 
suddenly saw the bird pause and listen. Through the woods came the faint 
cry of the rival who soon appeared. The Cock already in possession was 
in a fury. It rushed at its enemy and the two rolled over and over each other 
on the ground. Then the last comer rose out of the dust and literally drove 
its enemy from the "station." The hens all crowded around their new 
master seemingly to have entirely forgothen the poor defeated one. It is 
said that single Capercalzies with no following of hens are often seen in the 
forests and it is sui)posed that the hens will have nothing to do with Caper- 
calzies that have once been defeated, and compel them to lead single lives. 

The Capercalzie never seems to come out into the open country but 
stays in the pine woods which in Sweden are very dark and thick. The bird 
is largely killed for eating in the different countries as its flesh is very good. 
The Capercalzie is known by various names such as the Mountain Cock and 
the Cock of the North. 



THE ARCTIC FOX. 




The Arctic Fox stands a little apart from its numerous family. It is 
found in the most northern part of America, Greenland, and the great Arctic 
islands. It is especially famous for its fur. During the late fall it is a beauti- 
ful gray color, which makes it valuable in the market. In the depth of winter 
it is very heavy and silky and turns to a pure white, but at other times of the 
year it changes its coat very rapidly, assuming unsightly colors. Explorers 
and naturalists who have visited the Arctic regions at various times have 
described it as the " pied " fox, others as the "sooty" fox, and others as the 
"blue" fox; but it has since been proved that they are one and the same 
animal seen at different times of the year. 

They are over-bold, being easy to approach within gun-shot, and they do 
not display the clever tricks for keeping out of traps like their brethren. They 
live in burrows, like the red fox, and in size are slightly smaller, measuring 
about three feet, including the tail. 

Owing to persecution, the Arctic fox is not nearly as plentiful as it was; in 
fact, it has already vanished from some localities, where it used to live in great 
numbers. If the demand for its fur continues, it will probably be exterminated. 



THE HISTORY OF TWO OCELOTS 

The Ocelot is found in South America. It is a fierce, shrewd, leopard- 
like creature in habits. 

Once upon a time there was a man Hving south of the Equator who 
owned a large ranch. One night he heard a great noise in one of his barns, 
and he went out to see what was the matter. It was a very dark night, and 
as he pushed the door open he saw a pair of green eyes glaring at him. Out- 
side in the yard stood two horses shivering with fright and even the pigs 
were grunting uneasily. He knew that he could not do anything at that hour 
.so he closed the door and went back to bed. As soon as it was daylight he 
got his men together and came down to find out what was shut up in the barn. 
The chickens, ducks, and pigeons were all excited and making a great noise, 
for they evidently knew that an enemy was close by. The man pushed the 
door open, and before he had time to step back a beautiful ocelot flew at his 
throat. He gripped the beast by the front paw and tried to throw it off. 
Two of his men joined in the struggle and between them they overpowered it. 

Later on they discovered that there was a second ocelot shut up in the 
barn, evidently its mate. One of the men climbed to a window and from there, 
after several failures, succeeded in lassoing the animal. Steel dog collars and 
strong chains were placed about the necks of the prisoners, and they were 
securely fastened to a couple of empty dog kennels. Meanwhile the men 
went off to bathe and tend their bites and scratches. 

The ocelots must have gone into the barn to steal chickens, and have 
frightened the horses, which were loose in there. The latter rushed out, and a 
halter rope which had been around the neck of one of them was found jammed 
in the latch. This was how the door became closed, making the ocelots 
prisoners. 

The poor beasts tugged at their chains until the fur around their necks 
was all but worn off. Then the children came and threw stones at them, 
poked them with sticks and teased them in many cruel ways. So instead of 
becoming tame they grew fierce and sullen. No one ever went close to them 
for all remembered their fighting powers the day they were caught. 

The ocelots were mates, but under sized, for they grew quite a little in 
captivity. 

One day a boy who was traveling with his father through South America 
happened to come to the ranch. When he saw the ocelots he was much 
struck with their beauty, and offered to buy them. The ranchman, who had 
no use for them, sold them cheap, and they were duly bo.xed and shipped to 
California, their new home. The boy grew very fond of his pets and took 



THE HISTORY OF TWO OCELOTS. 

good care of them. All switches were put away and they were never teased 
They soon grew sleek and plump, gradually lost their fierceness, and would 
come out to be petted, behaving like overgrown cats. 

One afternoon they both got out of their cage, and, the day bemg chilly, 
they marched into the house. The boy, who was upstairs, heard shrieks 
comino- from the Chinese cook who had climbed up on the kitchen table for 
safety's sake. As soon as the boy saw what was the matter he whisded his 
usual call and the ocelots went bounding toward him. He gave them both 
a bowl of milk and put them back into their cage. After that he thought he 
might as well let them out again as they had behaved so well the first time, 
and it soon became a noon-day sport to have the beautiful creatures running 
about The cow-boys made great pets of the pair and played with them at 
all hours. The ocelots grew so tame that they never tried to bite anyone, 
only snarling at meal times. _ 

One day while the two were sunning themselves in the yard a large dog 
came in It spied the two ocelots and thinking it had a pair of large sizea 
tom cats to deal with, ran at them, barking loudly. In an instant the 
ocelots were changed; all their purr and good nature vanished and they 
sprancr at their enemy who yelped and tried to get away. After the dust of 
the battle had cleared it was found that the two ocelots had literally clawed 
the do- to pieces. It was hours before they got over their excitment, and 
they pr'owled up and down their cage all night as if expecting other enemies. 
Months passed after the dog incident without anythmg of note happening 
until one night the ocelots got away on a prowling escapade again. Now 
the country side had been much troubled with coyotes or prarie wolves, who, 
as you know are very troublesome thieves. Numerous poison traps had 
been set but without much success. The two ocelots came across some of 
the poisoned bait. Luckily for them the bait had been exposed for a long 
time and the poison had lost a good deal of its power. However, the two 
beasts gobbled the meat up and in consequence were only able to crawl a 
few yards from the trap, and there they lay in a stupor looking as if they 

were dead. ■ i r j ^i 

When the boy went to feed them in the early morning he found them 
missin- so he had a couple of horses saddled, and calling to a cow-boy to 
go with him started off in search of the truants. It was not an uncommon 
thing for him to have to go and hunt for his troublesome pets in this fashion, 
so he was not at all anxious. They struck the ocelots' trail and soon came 
across the bodies lying near the trap, and the poisoned bait gone. They 




POACHERS. 



THE HISTORY OF TWO CCEL.OTS. 

knew only too well what had happened and. feeling very miserable, they each 
carried an ocelot home in their arms. They were sure that the animals were 
dead but an Indian who knew all about poisons declared they were not. He 
wrapped them up warmly in a blanket and applied various remedies, and m 
an hour they both showed signs of life. It was many weeks, however, be- 
fore they were quite well again, and then they were very good and obedient. 
One thing they learned from their narrow escape from death, and that was 
never to touch bait in traps again. 

The following year the ocelots, who had been removed to a village, 
escaped about sunset one evening but when morning came they were back at 
their home It was discovered that in a single night they had nearly cleared 
the village of its chickens. They had murdered everything with feathers on 
it they cSuld find. The boy's father had a long bill to settle, and the ocelots 
were kept chained up as a punishment, but the villagers demanded that they 
be destroyed This the boy would not do, but he finally consented that 
they be taken to the Zoological Gardens. He parted with his pets with 
many regrets. They were properly crated and put on the train. 

The expressman was accustomed to handling almost any kind of goods, 
but he objected to being left alone with a pair of ocelots, especially as some 
one told him that they would probably be livelier in the darkness. The jolt- 
ing of the cars loosened the fastenings of the crate and the ocelots got out. 
The expressman yelled with terror and pulled the whistle-cord. The train 
came to a stop and the conductor and engineer rushed up to find out 
what was the matter. When they heard that the ocelots were loose they 
both declared that it was none of their business and they hurried back, one 
to his engine and the other to the cars. 

Meanwhile the ocelots were snarling, more from fright than anger, and 
were looking for a chance to escape. The expressman leaped out of the car 
and the ocelots bounded after him. They were last sighted early the next 
morning by a Spaniard who said they were then heading for the mountains. 
From time to time they were seen by travelers, and many attempts were made 
to capture them, but without success. They had learned a good many of 
man's tricks, and their exploits became local fables It is probable they are 
roamin^T the Sierra Madre mountains now. 

Think of the adventurous life they had had. Born in South America, 
captured unhurt while stealing chickens, owned by two masters, carried from 
one continent to another by ship and train, and finally to get their freedom in 
one of the wildest ranges of mountains in California. 



AN OTTER HUNT 

The Otter, an aquatic and carnivorous animal, is found in many places 
in Europe and Asia. There are several varieties, all of them having great 
swimming and diving powers. They attain a length of two and a half feet, 
with a strong, thick tail, about half as long as the body ; a broad, flat head ; 
very short rounded ears, and the long body covered with beautiful chestnut 
fur. The legs are very short, but strong ; the feet are not only webbed, but 
are armed with formidable claws. Indeed, in strength and agility, keen 
scent, acute hearing, and general cunning, the otter deserves a high rank 
among mammals. It is what boys would call a ' never-say-die animal ; ' so 
that an otter-hunt is a very attractive pursuit to men who do not object, after 
a long day's sport, to come home drenched to the skin, if not covered with 
mud, and perhaps without having killed an otter after all. For the otter 
always makes a brave struggle for freedom and life. When once it reaches 
its hole on the bank of the stream, it is not to be dislodged without heavy 
work : while after it is dislodged, so sharp is it, that though the dogs are 
keenly on the watch, it again takes to the water like a flash of lightning, and 
the chase has to be begun all over again. 

To ensure a successful otter-hunt, much depends upon the dogs. The 
true otter-hound is a hardy, rough-coated animal, nearly, two feet high, and 
very game. The hunters are armed with spears, and one can easily imagine 
that a great deal of shouting and yelling attends the chase. 

The otter is very destructive to fish of all kinds, and it has the good 
taste to prefer a salmon if it can find one. It has also this peculiarity, that 
it kills and tears to pieces many more fish than it can devour, and also that 
it always eats the prime parts only, while it leaves the more worthless 
morsels to the kites and crows. 

It is really a very inspiriting scene to see six or eight couples of wiry 
otter-hounds on a fine summer morning — for it is in summer that this sport 
is carried on. As the men of the party gather together the dogs cannot be 
prevented from showing their interest by yelps of pleasure; while the whip 
keeps them in order till tlie hunters are ready to start. 

A crowd of onlookers always collect in the background, armed with sticks 
and eager for sport. At a given signal off they go, the men on the river- 
bank hunting about among the bushes, hoping to see some trace of the otter, 
the dogs in the water eagerly sniffing about, when suddenly there is one 
prolonged shout — the otter has been seen, his round head just above water 
for a moment; but the next moment; a sudden plump is heard, and the agile 
creature has dived again, and every hound is after it, the men pursuing as 




■^ 



"f^'' 



■-«^ %4ii 




(,)U VRRl- LbOMK OI rikb 



AN OTTER HUNT. 

best they can, straining every nerve to kerp up the pace at which the 
hounds have started. 

The otter, however, seems to be far from his hole, for he still holds 
down the stream, followed by his enemies, though, as mile after mile is passed, 
one or two of the less sturdy are fain to lag behind. But again the hounds 
stop and begin to search about: the otter has once more dived, and is out of 
sight. He is there, however, beyond doubt, for the dogs will not leave the 
place, and the hunters are urging them on to search. At last a yelp from 
the foremost dog, and a shout from one of the men, ' He's here I he's here ! ' 
shows that the otter has been compelled to take to the water again. But this 
time the poor otter has the worst of it. 

If he would save his skin he must resort to all sorts of tricks, such as 
doubling back through his enemies. An otter usually makes for its hole 
from which it is a great job to get him out. The only way to do so is to 
dig him out. Just about the time you have reached the spot where you feel 
sure the otter must be out it jumps and the chances are ten to one that all 
the dogs tumble over each other but miss the otter in their hurry. ' The most 
exciting end to a hunt is when the dogs catch up with the otter in mid stream, 
this is after it has been driven so hard that it is almost too tired to dive again. 
The hounds make short work of the poor beast. The body is brought ashore 
and " broken up." The hunters take the paws as momentoes of the occasion 
and then every one goes home tired. The dog's tails hang down now the 
excitement is over and one can see by their eyes that all they are thinking 
about is supper and sleep. 

There was an otter that lived near where a river entered into a lake. 
He was old and wise and cared not a rap for all the otter hounds in the 
world. He would travel several miles up stream in search offish and if the 
hounds came upon him he would lead them a lively chase down stream 
which always ended in his taking to the lake where the dogs could not 
follow him. 

The hunters even placed dogs at the mouth of the river but the otter 
always dived through his enemies. On one occasion he bit off a dogs foot 
underwater. 

This otter lived for many years and became quite well known for his 
shrewdness and sagacity. A year or two after he had been last hunted he 
disappeared and as he was know to be fairly old it is supposed that he died 
a natural death. This is a fate that very rarely comes to an otter living on 
a river in the British Islands. 



THE MOONGUS AND THii COBRA 
Around nearly every house in India you will see a long-bodied, short- 
legged, perky little creature bristling with importance, busily prying into 
all sort's of odd corners. It is the Moongus. Indian gardens become the 
abode of numberless reptiles which would soon make it uninhabitable but 
for this useful litUe creature. 

In some of its habits it may be said to bear some resemblance to the 
cat, being cleanly and well disposed towards human beings. The moongus 
is consumed with curiosity ; it will pry into everything, and often thereby 
gets itself into the most laughable situations. 

A gendeman living in Bengal allowed a pet moongus to wander at will 
all over his house. One day it climbed on to the library desk to see what it 
could find. It pushed its nose into the ink-pot, and found the ink nasty to 
drink. Then wherever it put its nose after that it left an inky stain. The 
moongus could not understand where the black marks came from. At last 
it ups'et a large pot of gum, and got its feet and tail into the mess so that 
papers began to stick all over its body. With that the moongus rushed 
out of the house in a fright, and, to make matters worse, rolled itself over 
and over in the dust under the bushes in the garden. It was several days 
before its fur got back into order and neatness again. 

In India the little animal is much prized and protected on accunt of the 
unceasing warfare it wages against all manner of snakes. Every shaded 
nook and drain-pipe affo'rds a lurking-place for the dreaded cobra, and the 
one animal that faces this reptile without fear is the moongus. The light- 
ning rapidity with which the little creature moves, and the curious swaying 
motion of its body, enabling it to spring equally well on either side, makes 
it very difficult to say in which direction it will go, and this is its great 
safeguard in dealing with reptiles like the cobra. The moongus endeavors 
to catch the snake just behind the head, where it cannot bite back, nor lash 
with its tail. They roll on the ground together until either the snake is 
killed, or succeeds in shaking its enemy oft", which very seldom happens. 
The object of the moongus is to reach the snake's back-bone with its sharp 
teeth, and thus paralyze it. If the snake attacks first, the moongus receives 
its enemy in front, and avoids the lightning strokes by springing in the air- 
Quick as the snake is, it cannot turn around before the moongus has followed 
up its miss with a furious attack from behind. 

An eyewitness of a fight gives this account of it. A number of birds 
in a garden were screaming and fluttering about, showing clearly that 
somelhin--- unusual was going on. The man wanted to see what was 



THE MOONGUS AND THE COBRA 

happening. Attached to the garden was a moongus who was its king, in as 
much as it ruled all the rest of the small creatures with a rod of iron.' This 
moongus heard the commotion, and perking its nose in the air, it sniffed 
suspiciously. Then it drew nearer to the bushes to find out what was 
wrong. Suddenly it stopped short, and its fur becan:e erect with anger. 
It chattered loudly as though it was scolding someone. Then the bushes 
swayed violently too and fro and from between the leaves came the head 
of a large king cobra. 

The snake hissed angrily and swung itself to the ground and came out 
mto the sunlight. The cobra crept quite close but the moongus valiantly 
stood its ground in the middle of a cleared spot. Even the birds became 
silent and watched the pair, for they knew full well that their arch-enemy 
would have to battle for its life. 

The moongus slowly swayed from side to side while the cobra, whose 
hood was now distended, drew itself into a coil and raised its head in the 
air. The moongus moved around in a circle forcing the snake to change 
its position, each eyeing the other the while. Then came a pause during 
which neither side moved, but an instant later the snake struck, but the 
moongus was on the watch and leaped straight up in the air. The snake 
passed beneath, but not quick enough for its little enemy, who turned like 
lightning and succeeded in giving it a terrible bite, almost severing the end 
of the tail. Thus the moongus drew first blood and roused the snake to a 
pitch of fury. The usually cautions and deliberate cobra gave way to its 
rage and seemed to care for nothing but to kill its small enemy. The pair 
literally fought all over the garden, the other animals giving place, and the 
birds flying about and screaming with excitement. 

While passing near a wall the snake stuck at its enemy, missed it and 
nearly stunned itself against the hard bricks. In an instant the moon- 
gus was on top of its back, with its teeth buried in its neck. The snake 
made frantic efforts to shake its enemy off, but the moongus held on although 
its body was so battered that it seemed as if every bone must be broken. 
At least the snake fell dead and the moongus sprang off a foot or two. It 
did not seem to be hurt an atom but ran round and round the cobra's body 
leaping from time to time and chattering in triumph. 

The moongus does the snakes great harm in other ways besides 
fighting with them. When a cobra lays its eggs it generally does so in 
some warm corner and then after covering them with earth, leaves the heat 
of the sun to do the hatching. The moongus hunts for these eggs, digs 




= V)\ vvVa""^^ " 



^^s^' 



A MOONGUS ATTACKING A COBRA. 



THE MOONGUS AND THE COBRA 

them up and eats them. It is on these occasions that the fiercest battles 
take place, for the cunning snake is always on the lookout for enemies. It 
tries to sneak up behind the moongus and take it unwares, but the chances 
are a hundred to one that it will hear its enemy coming. 

The moongus is a good hunter, for it fears nothing. Should a mole or 
any other subterranean animal appear, the moongus flies at it, and if it seeks 
refuge in its burrow in the ground, will follow it in, and later is seen backing 
out of the excavation, dragging the luckless mole too. 

The only time that the moongus shows an irritable nature towards 
human beings is when it is feeding, being liable to use its sharp little teeth 
freely; but this is not common, because it usually drags its food off to a 
quiet spots, where it will not be disturbed. When the moongus is angry it 
spreads its tail out like a bottle-brush, and utters a quick chattering noise. 

Its general body-color is gray, with dark hairs intermingled, something 
like a squirrel's, but the fur is not what would be called handsome. 

It was claimed at one time that tiie poison of the cobra was not fatal to 
the moongus, but this is untrue, for should it be unlucky enough to get 
bitten, the consequences would be just as fatdl as in the case of any other 
animal. The moongus fights fairly, and matches its quickness of foot and 
eye against the snake's strike. 

One of these interesting creatures was brought to England and allowed 
to run about its owner's house. Of course, it inmiediately went on a tour 
of inspection, and ran up against the cats, who took it for an extra-sized rat, 
but they quickly discovered their mistake, for the sturdy little animal flew at 
them so fiercely that they were actually driven out of tlie house. This little 
moongus waged a great war on the roaches and beetles in the kitchen until 
they were all exterminated. One night, by accident, it was shut out from 
its warm quarters, and was found dead early the next morning. Although 
there was not a trace of frost in the air, nor even rain, the cold had been 
sufficient to cause the death of this little inhabitant of the tropics. 

In spite of its sharp teeth, Indian children like to make a pet of the 
moongus, for it is fond of a game. It is good-tempered, as a rule, but can 
be teased until it becomes dangerous. There is one thing which always 
rouses the moongus's wrath, and that is to pull its tail. It will snap angrily 
at anyone who comes near it after that. 

There have been many attempts to introduce the moongus into other 
snake-infested countries, but without much success, for it does not thrive 
well out of the tropics. 




NUBIAN SNAKE CHARMERS 



RATTLESNAKES 

Throughout the United States the most famous of all reptiles is the 
Rattlesnake or " Rattler " as it is called for short. Its name comes from 
the row of curious, loosely-jointed, shell-like formations which adorn the end 
of its tail. There are a great variety of rattlesnakes varying in beauty and 
length and venomousness. Now some branches of the Rattlesnake family 
are much larger than others but the main length is about three feet. 
Some specimens attain a length of five feet and sometimes over six but these 
are exceptionally large. 

Among some of the western Indian tribes the rattlesnake takes part in 
their religious ceremonies. Every one has heard of the famous snake 
dances wherein the priests hold the snakes in their teeth and dance with them. 
These men are frequently bitten but through some mysterious power they 
do not take any harm from the venom. 

Since the days when the world was in its babyhood the snake has been 
the symbol of wisdom. You will probably remember the saying — " Be ye 
wise as serpents." The pictures of the snake with its tail in its mouth 
symbolized eternity or the endless circle. The wisest men in- the earliest 
times and even in India today were called " Serpents." 

As fast as any district is settled up the rattlers disappear partly because 
they do not like human habitations, but chiefly because man kills the poor 
beast whenever he meets it. The rattlesnake is harmless in one sense, for it 
is not quarrelsome, and will seldom take the offensive unless it is struck first. 
It is not an uncommon thing for a traveller who is forced to sleep on the 
American desert, especially in tlie winter when the days are hot, and the 
nights are bitterly cold, to find two or three rattlesnakes lying close to him 
in the morning. The reptiles mean the traveller no harm but have simply 
crept close to him to get the heat from his body. All snakes, and especially 
rattlers, grow torpid and lazy in cold weather. On the other hand the rattler 
does not care a great deal for sunshine but prefers to lie in the shade, 
preferably against some rock that has been warmed by the sun. Its chief 
food consist of the small creatures which are to be found around its haunts. 

People for some insane reason seem to think it proper to kill reptiles, 
especially snakes, upon all occasions and lose sight of the fact that they are 
wonderful specimens of the Creator's work, and were put into the world for a 
purpose. All fruit growers in the west are troubled by gophers. These little 
rodents, half rat and half mole, in a short while will nibble the bark off an 
orange tree ( " girdling" it is called ) and then nothing can save the tree from 
destruction. Around all the ranches there is to be found a great snake called 



KATTLI'.SNAKES 

le eophcrs from be- 



thc cropher snake who makes it his business to keep the 
conune too numerous. These snakes are only killed by ignorant tenderfoots. 
The writer knew of one gopher snake, a huge fellow nearly seven feet 
lono- that was so tame that it would come to the back door of the ranch 
hou'se and drink milk from a saucer. One day a chinaman new to the •"anch, 
whose knowledge of snakes was limited, found this big tellow. 1 he old 
snake didn't make anv effort to get away as he knew that men folks had no 
quarrel with him. But the fool chinaman killed it with his hoe and carried 
the body in triumph to the house. There is no need repeat what the ranch 
man said when he saw the body, 

Nature balances everything. The animals balance each other, and 
when man steps in and kills, the delicate balance of nature is upset. On one 
occasion the great American traveller, John Muir, related that while he was 
wandering in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, he had occasion 
one night to sleep under a rock and he was much interested to find a large 
rattler there Some one who was listening asked him if he killed it, and he 
said that he hadn't. He pointed out that under that rock was probably the 
snake's home, and if anyone was trespassing it was he, not the snake. So the 
two passed the night together in great comfort and neither one interfered 
with the other Of course this does not mean that we should go out of our 
way to make bed fellows of stray rattlers but that we should think twice 
before we uselessly take the life of any creature. Wild animals on the 
whole are not very aggressive. Western folks bear witness that a man may 
meet a crrizzly bear with impunity provided he is not armed. 

Learned men and travellers have quarreled with each other for years 
about the question of the strength of the rattlesnake's poison. The result of 
their arguments seems to be, that the poison varies affecting different people 
in several ways. Climate has some effect on the snake and the farther south it 
is found the more lively it is and the more dangerous its bite. 1 hen again 
some species of rattlers are more venomous than others. In spite of all the 
stories there are not a great many cases of death from the snake's bite. A 
eood deal depends upon a person's state of health at the time. If he should 
be sick or ill-fed or run down it would go hard with him. The best remedy 
for snakebite is whiskey or any strong alcoholic liquor. It is said that 
directly the poison enters the blood it causes particles in the blood to congeal 
into masses, and this soon affects the valves where the blood enters and leaves 
the heart In this state the person soon looses the use of his limbs and 
appears to be suffering from paralysis. Now the blood moves very swiftly 



RATTLESNAKES 



through our bodies and it does not take long for the poison to travel. 
Whiskey is a powerful stimulant and it causes the heart to beat or pump 
very quickly, so when you see a person who has been bitten becoming 

u n c o n - 
cious it is 
not always 
a bad sign, 
for if the 
heart can 
be kept 
pumping 
it will 
spread the 
poison out 
so that it 
does not 
collect in 
any one 
spot with 
sufficient 
str en gth 
to k i'l 1 ; 
then again 
the alcohol 
is needed 
to keep the 
heart go- 
ing to over 
come the 
clogging 
of the 
valves. 

The 
poison of 

the rattlesnake is contained in a little sac lying near the root. This tooth 
itself is very sharp, and about one eight of an inch from its point has a tiny 
hole which is connected with the poison sac. When the snake bites the 
poison comes down the little channel and enters the wound. Some writers 




RATTLESNAKES 

declare that it is automatic, that is, when the snake bites the jar presses the 
poison sac and squeezes the venom out. 

The rattlesnake's poison looks like a drop of milk. An easy way to see 
it is to tie a strong, thick, leaf on the end of a long stick and present it to the 
snake, who strikes at it and the poison will be found on the leaf. 

You will probably in the course of your life hear wonderful yarns of 
rattlers jumping ten feet or more, but receive them with a pu.ch of salt. A 
rattler cannot spring more than its own length at most. If you stop and 
think you will see that it is impossible. When the snake finds an enemy it 
forms a coil at once with its tail in the middle and its head raised for defence. 
It keeps its rattle buzzing and it looks very angry. When it does strike it 
moves like hghtmng; in fact any .person not accustomed to snake s ways 
mio-ht truthfully declare that he did not see the head move at all. 

''The "rattle" of the snake is very curious. The "buttons" vary in 
number according to the snake's age and the average is about eight, but the 
writer has seen as many as sixteen. When rattling the snake sticks the 
end of its tail up in the air and it is seen vibrating rapidly. The sound 
produced thereby is like dry peas being shaken in a bladder One very 
curious thing about this sound is that at one time it seems to be coming 
from one direction, when in reality it is coming from the opposite way. 
Wood choppers and people who have to work in the undergrowth where 
the snakes live, throw from time to time chips of wood into the bushes and 
this is quite sufficient to scare the snakes away. 

Rattlers love to lurk in deserted mine shafts and caves. A traveller, 

well known to the writer, relates that while he was in Mexico, he and a 

companion entered the shaft of a deserted gold mine. 1 he instant they 

were completely in the dark their ears were almost stunned hy the dreaded 

rattling One man struck a match and they saw to their horror that the 

place was literally full of rattlers. The man who was behind said to his 

companion " Dont move, there is a snake under your feet." He looked 

down and sure enough the heel of his boot was upon the head of a large 

fellow He had sense enough not to jump but he ground his heel into the 

dirt and thus killed the snake. Had he tried to get away the chances are 

that the snake would have had him. Both men drew their revolvers and 

fired For an instant the rattling ceased and then they rushed for the 

entrance and were soon in sunlight again while from the mouth of the pit a 

ereater chorus than ever of rattling was coming out. , , , , 

A party of men while prospecting in New Mexico halted for lunch 



RATTLESNAKES 



among the rocks in a dry and hot canyon. When the meal was over the 
men lay around smoking awhile. One of the party was stretched at full 
length on a low rock sunning himself. Suddenly one of the Indian guides 
slowly stretched out his hand to the nearest rifle and before anyone noticed 
what was up, he fired. The man on the rock sprang up and found, not a 
foot from his ear, a large rattlesnake in the throes of death, its head having 
been shattered by the well aimed shot. 

On one occasion some children in California were playing hide and seek 
in a garden. One little girl went and hid under the low lying branches of a 
lemon tree. On looking up she saw a big rattler among the leaves just above 
her head. She screamed in terror; the mother who was close at hand 
dragged the child out of danger. They found out later that the rattlesnake 
had a family of young ones close at hand, and so you see one mother was 
just as anxious as the other. 

A piece of good advice to anyone who has occasion to travel in countries 
where rattlers are numerous is to wear thick woolen stockings and over that 
heavy leather leggings. Then you are safe if you get bitten ; the snake's 
teeth are not long enough to reach the flesh. A snake, unless it is very 
large indeed, seldom strikes above the knee. 

Farmers often resort to a curious way to rid their places of rattlers. It 
is well known that pigs will kill and eat snakes whenever they can find them. 
If the snakes bite the pigs in the fat part of the body it will do them no 
harm, but see that your pigs are fat. This scheme was tried on Guadalope 
Island in California but the pigs were of thin, wiry kind and the rattlesnakes 
cleared them out in no time. 

Rattlesnakes are beautifully marked, and are in endless variety of color 
and pattern. The Diamond Rattlesnake is especially handsome ; the skin 
of this species however soon loses a great deal of its color. The skin of all 
rattlesnakes is thickish and tough and it is therefore not hard to handle. It 
can easily be skinned and tanned and made into belts and hat bands. 

Nearly every Zoo has a good collection of live rattlers, but they seldom 
move about so as to give one much of a chance to observe them. The writer 
one day saw a number of rattlers in the Philadelphia Zoo roused to anger 
by a dog entering the house, and it was a splendid opportunity to see how 
the tail worked. It was possible to get within a foot, or so, of it without 
any danger. Even when w^ld, rattlers do not appear to be very active. 
Like all snakes, they can go for months without food, but whether they live 
to any very great age is not so certain. 




A COBRA CATCHING A GERBOA. 



CATCHING GERBOAS 

The Gerboa is an odd looking member of the great rodent family. It is 
about the size of a large rat, and has hind legs of enormous length when 
compared to the size of its body. 

These little creatures are not often seen alive in collections because they 
are hard to keep. Then again their cages have to be extra large to give them 
room to jump and sooner or later they are almost sure to break a leg. 

The home of the gerboa is on the sandy wastes of Northern Africa. A 
traveller who was anxious to get some specimens tried to capture them with 
a dog. The little creatures live in burrows and come out mostly at night. 
Still there are nearly always some of them about in the daytime. The man 
would poke one gerboa out of its hole and then set the dog on it. But unless 
the dog caught it on the first jump the gerboa would always get away. Later 
on a greyhound was tried but without any better success. The gerboa is able 
to travel very swiftly over rough ground, while a dog would continually slip 
through its feet striking the loose stones. 

No one would credit the speed of the gerboa unless they had a chance to 
see the little creature in its wild state, and on level or smooth ground, trying 
to get away from an enemy. The gerboa goes along in a series of very quick 
jumps of enormous length, and as it travels its speed gets greater and its 
jumps longer each second. 

The most deadly enemy that the gerboa has is the hooded cobra. This 
great snake has a novel way of catching its prey. The traveller mentioned 
had a chance to watch the snake at work, and this was how it set about it. A 
large corba was seen lurking near the gerboas' feeding ground and it soon 
coiled itself up with its head drawn back ready for a swift strike. The 
gerboas in the meanwhile were leaping about in various directions, and 
curiously enough never once caught sight of their enemy. 

Suddenly a number of the little creatures began leaping in the air as if in 
play. One of them sprang clean over the cobra but it never moved as it 
knew that its prey was out of reach, but a few minutes later another gerboa 
sprang in the same direction but this time much lower. In an instant the 
snake's head shot out and seized the gerboa firmly. The poor little creature 
squeaked but it was all up. The other gerboas instantly took to flight, and 
the snake then slowly went away and was soon coiled up in another place 
ready to repeat the trick over again. The snake is said to catch the gerboas 
in this way day after day and the foolish little things never seem to learn 
wisdom. Fennecs, foxes and other animals also hunt the gerboa, but not to 
any great extent, for it is very difificult to catch. 




CATCHING MONKEYS. 

When you look at cages full of grinning, jumping monkeys do 
you ever stop to think how the little creatures came out of the woods, 
and got into the Zoological Gardens ? There are men who travel 
up and down the world, through jungle and river, over mountain 
and pass, catching wild animals for the various collections in Europe snd 
America. You never hear of their wild adventures, nor even see them, but 
the monkeys in the cages prove that they exist. 

Now capturing monkeys is one of the most difficult and heart breaking 
branches of the business, for after the little creatures are caught they seldom 
live. There have been cases where forty monkeys have been shipped to 
Europe, and only six or seven reaching the end of the journey alive. 

South America is the great stronghold of the m.onkeys, and they are 
hunted there even for their skins ; for many nations and tribes thmk the 
monkey's fur the most beautiful in the world. 

One of the simplest methods of catching the monkeys is this. The 
trapper takes a strong cocoanut shell and hollows it out ; the hole at the top 
being only just the size of a monkey's hand. The bottom of the nut is 
fastened to a chain, which, in its turn, has a stake, at the end which is driven 
into the ground. The cocoanut is then placed near the trees where the 
monkeys live. No sooner is the cocoanut seen than the excitement begins. 
You must know that monkeys are consumed with curiosity, and when they 
see anything that they do not understand they must climb down the tree and 
examine it for themselves. So it is never long before some foolish little 
fellow comes scampering down the trees to the trap. The monkey looks in 
the hole, and sees something, and plunges its hand in, and grabs a fist tull of 
rice. The trapper, who has been on the watch, runs out of his hiding place. 
The n-.onkey screams and tries to get away, but it can't pull its 
clenched fist through the small wrist hole. Either the monkey 
is too greedy to let go the rice, or else it hasn't sense enough to 
open its hand. The trapper pops the poor little creature into a 
sack and sets the trap again. It is curious that this scheme can be worked 
over and over again without the monkeys finding it out. It seems as though 
they must put their hands in to see what their companions found there. 

There are only two ways in which this simple nut trap fails to work, and 
the first is that sometimes instead of putting its hand in, the monkey seizes 
the cocoanut, and shakes the rice out on to the ground. The second way 
is that often the monkey's hand is so small that it can draw out its fist, when 
full of rice, without any difficulty at all. The trapper soon remedies this 




CATCHING MONKEYS 



defect however by changing the cocoanut for one with a smaller hole. 

Another way that monkeys are trapped is by covering a portion of the 
ground with a drop net which is suspended about a yard up in the air. 
Then some very bright object is placed as a bait, such as a tiny mirror with 
spangles and bright shells attached. The mirror is generally fastened to a 



small twig, and a string attached. 




The hunter pulls the string causing the 
twig to vibrate, and 
the sunlight soon 
makes the mirror 
flash. Immediately 
the monkeys are at- 
tracted, and down they 
come to examine the 
wonderful thing. 
When they have crept 
close enough the 
trapper pulls a cord 
and the drop ntt falls. 
Then wild screams 
and struggles tell that 
there are furry pris- 
oners caught in its 
deadly meshes. 

We have heard 
of a case where 
monkeys were attract- 
ed to a certain spot by 
some brilliant bait. 
Then the trapper, who 
was hidden in the 
bushes close at hand, 
imitated a snake's 
hiss so perfectly that 
the monkeys became 
paralized with fear. 
There is nothing that 
monkeys fear as much 
as snakes. 




A BAND OF GREEN MONKEYS LOOTING A GARDEN. 



CATCHING MONKEYS 

On one occasion a large snake climbed high into a tree after some 
monkeys. It had almost reached its prey when its presence was discovered. 
Immediately the forest resounded with yells of rage and fright. The snake 
drove two of the monkeys to the topmost branches where, in their terror, 
they took enormous leaps to the next tree. Their spring swayed the branch 
so much that, for a wonder, the snake lost its hold and fell to the ground 
upon some rocks and was very badly injured. The monkeys seeing that their 
enemy was disabled, soon scrambled to the ground to get stones and sticks 
and dirt and then pelted the snake until they killed it. But it is only once in 
a blue moon that the monkeys have such luck as this The monkeys also 
hate the jaguar and tiger, and often when they spy one of the great cats, 
they follow it from tree to tree pelting it with branches and sticks. The 
screams and yells and chattering warn every creature within hearing and 
the best thing the big cat can do is to get away as quickly as possible. 

All people who have the misfortune to live near any place where 
monkeys are numerous declare that they are great nuisances. They will 
tear the thatch from the bungalows, steal the washing put out to dry and 
ransack the vegitable garden as though there were no such thing in the 
world as "mine and thine." One gentleman, who lived in India, told the 
writer that in his garden were two enormous peach trees, the fruit of which 
was excellent. The tree itself needed no tending, but it was necessary to 
keep two natives on watch continually to scare the monkeys off The little 
creatures could not be shot as they were sacred, and it was unlawful to kill 
them. Sometimes monkeys oranize in great bands and raid a garden and 
carry everything away. While the watchmen are busy chasing off one 
branch of the mauranders another will swarn over the fence and in the 
twinkling of an eye do all the damage. 

Monkeys will live in cold climates, but they have to be protected 
against damp for they get chilled very easly. There are a few wild apes 
left on the Rock of Gibraltar but this is very far north for them to be found. 
They must have been there since the Straits were formed, or else they may 
have escaped from the Moors. In Spain there is a legend that the monkeys 
formed themselves in a mighty rope by holding tails. Then the monkey 
rope in Africa swung back and forth till the end fellow caught hold of 
Gibraltar. All the others crossed on this living bridge. Then the African 
end let go. Since the Philippine Islands have become part of the United 
States, we can boast of having monkeys, for there are thousands there, but 
none even in the hottest parts of the United States. 




ANGRY RHINOCEROS. 



THE RHINOCEROS. 




ll\()Ll KDS 



It is sometimes thought that the Rhinoceros must have been the animal 
which the ancients called the unicorn. This family is quite numerous, having 
members in India, Java, Sumatra, and Africa. The Indian variety is famous 
for the wrinkled folds of skin which cover the shoulder and leg joints, and give 
good protection to the owner. The skin of the rhinoceros is so tough that a 
lead bullet will not pierce it, while the bones of its skull are the thickest of 
anv animal. The African variety has a smooth, tough skin without any shoul- 
der-folds. Throughout Abyssinia the rhinoceros's skin is largely used for 
war-shields. When rubbed down and oiled it becomes semi-transparent, like 
dull amber. The horn of the rhinoceros is formed of countless hairs growing 
together in a compact mass. This horn is quite independent of the skull, for 
a few days after death it will drop off. It is much sought for to make sword 
and axe handles, as it is one of the toughest things in the world. 

All the rhinoceros family are bad-tempered. Without any reason they 
will attack a beast or dead object, whichever is nearest. The rhinoceros has 
been seen to caper about, squealing with rage, and attack a bush, tearing it up 
and trampling it to pieces. The furious beast will drive its horn into the 
ground and then rush along until the earth looks as though a huge plough 
had been over it. Sometimes a lion, or tiger, or a leopard is foolish enough to 
attack a rhinoceros, but the battle generally ends with the victory to the latter. 



THE RHINOCEROS. 

Tlie elephant ^md rhinoceros stand somewhat in awe of each other. 1 he ele- 
phant is nervous and excited when the rhinoceros is near, and even this black, 
quarrelsome beast will turn aside if it hears an elephant coming, though the 
Rhinoceros will often attack an elephant. The size, weight, and length of tusk 
of Its opponent makes it too risky to fight in a fair battle, but, instead, the 
crafty rhinoceros lies in wait and rushes upon the elephant unawares, and rips 
it open with its powerful horn. The elephant cannot see sideways very well, 
and the rhinoceros, knowing this, lies in wait for its victim until it turns its 
body to the right angle. But if, by any chance, the rhinoceros misses its 
strike, a terrific battle takes place, which generally ends in a victory for the 

elephant. „, 

The African natives have a curious way of killing the rhinoceros. Ihey 
place a strong looped rope in a shallow pit near the feeding-ground. The rhi- 
noceros, in walking along, puts its foot into the loop and, becoming alarmed, 
rushes off At the end of the rope a huge baulk of timber is fastened. It soon 
crets tired of dragging this weight after it, and often gets it wedged between 
Uvo trees The log leaves a clear trail which the natives follow the next day 
until thev find their victim. They then kill it with spears. Sometimes the 
rope by which the beast is caught breaks, and then things become exciting. 




FOLLOWING A NOOSED RHINOCEROS. 



CONDORS 

There is no more wonderful and mysterious bird than the American 
Condor. Of all the feathered folk it is the largest in stretch of wings, with 
one exception and that is the giant albatross. 

It is the largest of the land birds, its wings from tip to tip usually 
measuring between ten and fourteen feet. 

The condor lives in the Andes mountains of South America and may 
be said to belong to the vulture family. 

The condor prefers to live at great heights where a man could not exist. 
It builds no nest but lays a solitary egg upon a narrow ledge on the face of 
an inaccessable precipice. The condor thinks nothing of flying as high as 
twenty thousand feet; in fact it is most frequently found on the edge of the 
snow line which in itself seldom creeps below fifteen thousand feet. It will 
fly for hours at a time in great circles, sometimes a mile in circumference 
without flapping its wings at all. The condor is not the sort of bird that 
h::^ to feed every day but when the opportunity occurs it gorges itself and 
then goes away to digest the meal. 

The cattlemen wage continuous war on this mighty vulture for it 
commits great havoc among their flocks, especially the sheep. When carrion 
is to be found in abundance the condors do not worry the domestic animals 
but should their supply run short they descend in bands of half a dozen or 
more to the valleys in search of prey. 

Now the most natural way of ridding any place of theives of this 
character is by the gun, trap or poison. But the condor is exceedingly 
difficult to kill. In the first place no trap that was ever made would hold a 
condor, unless it was of such clumsy dimensions that the bird would not go 
near it. If the trap is staked to the ground it would brake the chain. Poison 
is no better for the bird's digestion is marvellous. If it eats poison meat it 
will eject it at once before it can do any harm. The gun is almost useless 
too for the vitality of this vulture is enormous. An explorer in South 
America records that he shot a condor fourteen times before he succeeded 
in killing it. Among the sheep herders cartridges are scarce and expensive 
while on the other hand condors are large and numerous. 

A great writer on natural history tells a story of a man he met while 
travelling in Chili who showed him some of the outer pinion feathers, nearly 
two feet long, which he had taken from a condor's wing. This man killed a 
mule in a secluded part of a valley where he thought condors would be likely 
to come, and sure enough in a day or two a flock appeared. They gorged 
themselves on the carcase to their utmost extent. One huge fellow in 




CUM)C)K^ ^I' 1 1 l'^*-' ^ ^'^ J^IA. 



CONDORS 

particular had eaten so much that it could not fly. The man awaited a 
favorable moment and then rushed at the condor and seized it by the neck. 
He tried his best to twist the neck in his hands but found that it was an 
impossible task. The other condors grew very excited and fluttered around 
the fighting pair but did not actually take a hand in the struggle. Soon the 
man found that it would be far easier to hold on to the condor than let it go. 
He had to keep its head out of the way, for he knew that one stroke from its 
curved beak would knock his brains out; at the same time the condor was 
trying its best to claw its enemy off. The man's legs were slowly being torn 
to pieces in the struggle. At last he let go one hand long enough to reach 
his revolver and placing the barrel close against the condor's head he killed 
it in a couple of shots. It was many weeks before he recovered from the 
wounds of the fight. It is doubtful if many of us would take all that risk to 
gain some coveted feathers. 

Throughout South America is found a powerfully built cousin of the 
leopards and tigers — the Puma. This animal is the great hunter of the west 
coast and the condors know this and watch its movements with great 
interest. The condors are not very good hunters themselves and will never 
take the trouble to attack a wild animal unless it is wounded or otherwise in 
trouble but they are very well pleased when some other animal undertakes to 
to do the hunting for them. The condors, wheeling high up in the air, can 
see all that is going on below them. When they spy a puma searching for 
prey they follow it. A favorite trick of theirs is to wait until the puma 
brings down an ox or a deer and then they descend and mob the hunter- 
The puma seldom makes much of a fight and is soon driven off leaving 
the condors with a nice meal ready to hand. 

The condor, first and last, is a scavanger, and in spite of its beauty, it 
is a very foul bird. The condor is colored in a most striking manner. Its 
beak is blue-black, its head has no feathers on it but is covered with a 
wrinkled scarlet skin. Around its neck is a ruff of very fine white feathers. 
Its wings are black and white and when folded almost hide its legs. Like 
all birds with an enormous stretch of wings it has great difficultly in rising 
from the ground and only does so after making a series of comical jumps. 
But once it gets its balance in the air it is most majestic and sails away, 
apparently without effort, at the speed of a fast train. 

Travellers to the coast cities like Lima frequently have an opportunity 
of seeing the condor for it is not an uncommon sight to observe a single 
specimen like a tiny dot wheeling in the sky far above the city. 



LASSOING A JAGUAR. 

A circus proprietor who was traveling in Soutli America was exceed- 
ingly struck by tlie beauty and strength of the Brazihan Jaguar. He 
offered a large sum of money to anyone who would bring him one alive. 
The natives made all sorts of clumsy traps but nothing that would tempt a 
jaguar inside. Others tried to shoot a jaguar so as only to disable it, and 
then they could put it in a cage; but this would not satisfy the circus man's 
ideas; nothing but a full grown, uninjured jaguar would do for him. More 
than one man lost his life in the attempt to capture this forest king, until it 
became a local saying that a thing was "as difficult as capturing a jaguar." 

Now at a village some sixty miles away lived two cowboys, or " vac- 
queros " as they are sometimes called, and they heard of the reward offered 
for a live jaguar. They laughed among themselves and said they would 
surely win the prize. So they secured a bull calf, and went out to a piece 
of open ground near the forest, and tied it to a stump for bait. Then they 
retreated to cover to watcli. The lowing of the calf soon brought a jaguar 
to the scene. The magnificent creature bounded toward its prey and then 
stopped, sniffing suspiciously. Suddenly the two vacqueros galloped up, 
shouting loudly. The jaguar stood its ground, bewildered, not knowing 
what the noise meant. Both men had their lassos ready, swinging them 
threateningly around their heads. This was more than the jaguar could 
stand, and it sprang with a roar upon the nearest horse ; but the rider was 
too quick for it and instantly threw his lasso over the jaguar's neck. At the 
same moment the second vacqueros threw his lasso over the jaouar's hind 
feet, and in spite of its struggles it was a helpless, bound prisoner. But the 
vacqueros' work was not finished, by any means. They got off their horses, 
keeping their lasso's taut in their hands and waited until the jaguar became 
exhausted with its struggles. 

For hours the beast tore at the ground until it seemed a marvel that it 
did not break away. The lasso had been thrown in such a manner that the 
jaguar could not reach the rawhide rope with its teeth. One vacquero now 
fastened the end of his rope to a tree and then came up quite close to the 
beast and threw cords over it, rolling it over and over until it was so tangled 
that it could not move. In half an hour they had its mouth eao-cred and its 
four feet tied together. Then they hoisted it on to a wagon, hauled it to 
town, and took it to the circus man, who gladly gave them the reward. 

The jaguar was sent to the United States and lived for many years 
in peace. It was famous until the day of its death because of the way it had 
been captured and for its great strength and beauty. 



CAPE BUFFALOS A J ilO.MI- 



towards a rock upon which it leaped. The niovemcnt had taken the buftalo 
bv surprise, and as soon as she saw what had happened she raced after her 
fleeing enemy. The hon gained the top of the rock safely however and 
then lay down, panting, bleeding and growling angrdy. The old buffalo 
bellowed defiance and ran around the rock, trying lo get up ,t and tearing 
up the turf in her rage. She was evidently daring the lion to come down 
and finish it out, but the latter had had enough and was not wdlmg. 
The lion lay close and refused to move, and after lingenng near the spot for 
a couple of hours the buffalo went away. 

Now this is where the buffalo's sense of revenge comes m. After sun- 
down the lion, after looking carefully around on every side, stole down from 
the rock and slunk away a couple of miles to a river where it drank largely 
and then retired to a shallow sand pit to sleep, for it was well nigh exhausted 
The lion could not have been asleep more than an hour, when a great 
shadow came stealing along; it was the buffalo, with nose close to the 
ground treading as lightly as an antelope. Presently she came to the sand 
^it where, in the bright moonlight, lay her enemy. The hon stirred 
uneasily in its sleep, as though it vaguely sensed some danger In an 
instant the buffalo charged and before the lion could make any defense it 
was killed The buffalo drove a horn clean through its body, and then htt- 
in- her head hurled the great cat ten yards or more. Then she charged 
aiin but there was no need, for the lion lay twitching in death. The 
buffalo's great rage returned and she stamped the body to pieces and hen 
went away bellowing, evidently feeling that jusuce had been done. There 
is no animal in the world that is more affectionate, or takes better care ot its 

vounir, than the buffalo does. , , i j 

These cape buffalos go in small herds, and generally under the leader- 
ship of a powerful bull. Quite often there is a battle among the males for 
possession of the herd and the vanquished bull is driven off This outcas 
then roams alone, and becomes by far the most dangerous of its kind lor aU 
its sullen and vicious qualities stand out more than ever. 

One day a solitary buffalo while lying asleep on the edge of a swamp 
was awakened by an elephant coming down to drink. The buffalo looked 
up and snorted angrily ; then, without giving any warning it charged i he 
elephant hadn't time to face its enemy and was nearly carried off its feet by 
the blow on its flanks. The " tusker " was a big full grown fellow and was 
soon busy defending itself from attack. The buffalo charged again and 
ao-ain and manv times got the worst of it froiU the elcphantis sharp tusks. 



CAPE BUFFALOS AT HOME 

So matters went on for fifteen minutes till one of the elephant's tusks 
broke. Feeling itself crippled, the elephant turned and fled, leaving the 
victorious buffalo far behind. This incident illustrates how vicious a lonely 
buffalo becomes. There was no need for the two creatures to quarrel, for 
neither one was interfering with the other, and the elephant is never reckoned 
among the irritable brutes. 

It is probable that fights occur between buffalos and elephants oftener 
than is supposed, for elephants are sometimes found with enormous scars low 
down on their flanks which can be charged only to the buffalo's horns. The 
rhinoceros marks the elephant in much the same place, but the scars look 
altogether different. A rhinoceros horn is blunt at the end and therefore 
makes a broad wound. 

In hunting the buffalo from horseback several points should be kept in 
mind. Many hunters believe that by shattering a leg the buffalo can be 
crippled, but at close quarters it does not seem to make any difference. Again 
the buffalo is remarkably quick on its feet for so bulky an animal and can 
spring from one side to the other as quickly as a cat. Still another point is 
that when approaching a swamp, especially if there are bushes around, the 
buffalo is very hard to see. In the first place its hide is a dirty slate color, 
and whether lying in the mud, or standing in the shadows, it is difficult to 
see. While passing through the woods the buffalos' horns, which 
are spread wide apart, become covered with tropical creepers which hang 
down in festoons on either side. You have no idea how these leaves serve 
to hide the creature. At times hunters have almost walked on top of a 
buffalo before they have known what they were doing, and the lack of 
caution has cost many lives. A buffalo sometimes allows its enemies to 
come close before it attacks. 

There is peculiar smell about a cape buffalo, not a bad smell by any 
means, but horses greatly dread it. Directly they sniff it in the air they 
become rei:tless, and in many cases, terror stricken. 

A party of Boers were "trekking" to the north of their country, travelling 
with a wagon drawn by a dozen horses when suddenly the creatures began 
to rear and plunge. The drivers rushed to their heads and tried to straighten 
them out. The older men however knew in an instant what was wrong, for 
they let the horses go, but made for their rifles instead. Out of a thicket 
came a bull buffalo, with that peculiar swinging trot which all its kind have. 
The trot soon changed to a gallop and the beast charged right into the 
bunch of terror stricken horses, killing two right off and maiming a third. A 



CAPE BUIFALOS AT Ilinil', 



bullet between the horns seemed to have no effect at all, except that Oi 
making the creature turn its attention to the men. One shot broke a fore 
leg and a second bullet shattered its companion. The buffalo went down of 
course, but not out. It struggled to rise to its feet and get at its enemies. 
A third shot through the lungs settled the business. That caravan was so 
badly wrecked that it was a couple of days before the damages could be 
repaired and the journey resumed. 

It must be remembered that the buffalo can gallop at great speed, and 
furthermore it can get up its pace quicker than a horse. One hunter, who 
was well mounted, shot at a standing buffalo and missed. The brute charged 
in an instant and before the mare, a spirited arab, could gather herself to her 
stride the buffalo overtook her and putting its horns under her flanks literally 
turned her a somersault. Rider and horse were both killed at once. 

On another occasion a party of hunters while travelling had considerable 
trouble with one horse that had broken down. At last the poor creature 
collapsed and died. While the party were standing about, a buffalo came 
out of a thicket. All the men, but one, were on horseback, and they scattered 
in a moment. The man on foot saw that he could not get to his mare, so 
he hid behind the dead body of the horse. The buffalo trotted up and 
sniffed at the the carcass and seeing the man looked at him in a puzzled way. 
The hunter made sure that it was his last moment, but a lucky chance 
helped him. A shot struck the buffalo on the flank and it turned at once 
and moved a few yards in the direction of the smoke. This was the hunter's 
chance and he was quick to seize it. His mare was one that had been 
specially trained for this sort of hunting for she had not deserted her master 
but with almost human foresight hung around as close to him as she dared. 
The instant the buffalo's attention was drawn away she came up, and the 
next moment her master sprang into the saddle. There wasn't a moment's 
pause, for away she went like the wind and not a minute too soon. The 
buffalo saw the fleeing animal, and came after it like a whirlwind. Luckily 
the ground was level, giving the mare a chance to show her best. For half 
a mfle horse and buffalo raced not a quarter of a length apart. Looking over 
his shoulder the rider could see that the buffalo's horns were almost up to 
his mount's flanks. There was no need to urge the mare for she knew that 
her life depended on her gallop, for one false step would have meant 
disaster. Li no sense of the word ^\•as the mare in a panic. At last the 
pace bco-an to tell and the arab drew away a few inches, and then a yard or 
more Sicadilv the gap widened until the buffdc, snorting angrily gave up 



CAPE BUFFALOS AT HOME 

the chase as a bad job. The horse, in spite of its superior breeding, had 
been severely tried and was on the verge of breaking down. The buffalo had 
abandoned the hunt none too soon. 

The hunter on that occasion has often declared since that he and the 
mare broke every world s record that was ever made for a flat mile. This is 
not improbable for if you were to turn a speedy cape buffalo loose behind a good 
thoroughbred race horse, on an American track, it is extremely likely that 
several seconds would be clipped off the best running time ever made. 




In Cc\l()n tliLiL is ci buttalc) somewhat like our iiicnd of the Cape, only 
it is black in color, a little smaller, sleeker and with longer but smoother 
horns. It is built more on the lines of a gigantic Texas steer. However it is 
just as fierce as its African cousin, and every bit as much to be feared. 
Hunters are divided in their opinions as to which affords the best and most 
dangerous hunting. There isn't much to choose between them. 

In Ceylon the buffalo has to reckon with the tiger, but not often. Many 
generations of battles have taught the tigers wisdom. Sometimes that 
greatest of all thieves, the leopard, will worry a tiny baby buffalo but not if 
the mother is nearby. The leopard can escape the buffalo's fury by taking 
to the tree, otherwise matters would go hard with it. The tiger however 
must fight it out on foot. Taken on the whole the buffalo is as much 
master of the situation in Ceylon as it is in South Africa. 



TWO CROCODILE STORIES 
There are two instances known where one crocodile got the best of a 
ficrht and another the worst. This is the first : , , , . .1 

" A Hon was lying in ambush near a drinking place on the banks of the 
Senegal River, in Africa. It had lain motionless for some time waitmg for 
game^o come along, when a herd of deer appeared. Now the hon had not 
chosen the best place m the world for a vantage ground, for the nver bank 
was steep and narrow at that point. The deer, led by a fine ^uck came do. n 
single file nearly to the water's edge. The herd soon sn.elled the on and 
becLe uneasy. The leader sniffed about on all sides, but fina ly. -t hearmg 
anything, came forward to drink. The hon sprang at it, but too late, for the 
buck leaped to one side and vanished. The lion, landing on the soft mud, 
lost its balance and rolled over and over into the water. It regamed its feet 
at length, a little bewildered, snarling angrily. The water just reached to its 

""" The lion stood still for a minute or more and was just about making for 
shore when it gave a terrific roar and attempted to plunge forward but 
something held it back. A crocodile had slipped up and seized its hind legs 
in its powerful jaws. The lion was at the mercy of the crocodile ; neverthe- 
less it turned and attacked its enemy ferociously. The crocodile hung on 
doggedly in spite of the terrible clawing it was receiving, at the same time 
backing with all its might, keeping its head under water as much as possible 

for ijrotection. ... 1 q ;„ 

The crocodile was slowly winning, for inch by inch ,t succeeded in 
brincring its victim into deeper water. The poor beast gave vent to deai_en- 
incr roars, and amid frantic struggles was slowly pulled under. In a fevv 
mmutes there was nothing but air bubbles to show where the struggle had 

taken^place._^^^^^ later the lion's body floated to the surface, and soon the 
crocodile appeared swimming round and round viewing its handiwork with 

satisfaction. . r ^^i ^.vV.f 

The second story, tells how the crocodile got the worst of t'^c fight. 
A number of buffalos came down to the water to drink. While doing 
so a very large crocodile made a rush for the largest bufi-alo. seizing it by 
the snout. There was a grand tug of war for several minutes, neither gain- 
ing any advantage ; but slowly the buftalo succeeded in drawing the crocodile 
out of the water ; yet it would not let go its hold. The other buftalos came 
to the rescue of their companion, attacking the crocodile fiercely 

A hon and a pair of leopards, attracted by the sound of the battle, stood 




BASKING CROCODILES. 



TWO CROCODILH STORIES 

looking on without attemi-ting to tal<c any ,.art in the fray. Tlic f,;.;ht was 
too hot for them, and they ^v.vc willing to be only spectators. 

The crocodile, by vigorously switching "» '-''■/^"'^'.t 'lien he 
the leas of two of the buffalos, putting them out of the fight 1 hen the 
crocodile fearmg for its life, let go of the buffalo's nose and trted to escape 
to the water, but its foe and the remaining unhurt buttalo followed ,t up 
auicklv During the struggle the crocodile seized the buffalo s nose aga.n^ 
Is time dra in'g it s.eadTy toward the water. When the croeod.le had 
only about ten feft more to go, the second buffalo rushed at it and bur.ed ,ts 
horns into its side. This was the end of the poor crocodde, for the wound 
was ata and it fell over on its side, dead. The buffdo wh.ch had ,ts snou 
mangled also had a leg broken. So, in a fight of <°"^ J!S-'"%Z\^it 
crocodile had succeeded in disabhng three of ,ts enem.es. ^he buffalos wth 
broken legs being unable to move, became a splendid meal later on for the 

"°" Th,f s^^^T't good „lustrat,on of the crocodUes' e„oru,ous strength 
and vitality Crocodiles are very quarrelsome and fight great battles among 
the,.Xs for hours at a tinre. Any hunter who has shot arge specmens 
can testify that the creatures' heads are literally covered w,th scars received 

'" '°When crocodiles take possession of a r.ver all Cher creatures except the 
hipDopotamus give it place. This animal is too l>ig and powerful a swm>mer, 
anTtoo savage^ven for the crocodtle to handle, therefore the h.ppopotamuses 
and the crocodiles live in mutual respect and peace. Once ma whde a 
crocodile will try to steal a baby hippo, and then a fight takes place v.h.eh 
the river folk remember for many moons. 

Crocodiles are treacherous. They love to lurk near fords or places 
where the women come to wash. They sneak up in the sha low water and 
seize their v.ctims. In parts of the N,le, near Kh.unoun,, hardly a day passes 
vithout some poor native being carried off by a crocodde. Jh-.- are . - 
stances on record where a crocodile has charged a canoe, upset rt, and then 
attacked the rowers as they struggled in the water. 

Sir Samuel Baker mentions a case where a back-water of the Ntle had 
been damned off to make a safe and shallow bathmg place for the people of 
the village. Somehow a croeod.le got in. One day awful shrieks were 
heard coming from the pond, and the men, rushing '" "-■ P'-^' '-"^V h 
a woman had been carried off The crocodtle could not get out, so the 
assembled villagers leisurely shot the beast to death. 




A FIGHT BETWEEN CROCODILEa 




A STAG BFXLOWINO A ClIALLLNGL TO A KIN ^L 



HUNTING DEER 

Deer hunting is quite a different sport in the United States to what it is in 
Scodand. There the deer hve in " forests " which are really open mountains 
and only covered in spots by trees. Keeping up a deer forest is a very expen- 
sive business for the amount of fun that the owner gets out of it. Some time 
ago it was reported that every deer killed by sportsmen in Scotland cost over 
seven hundred dollars per head. 

A gentleman who was invited to a deer shoot in the Highlands gives this 
account of the sport. A party of six composed of three men and three deer 
keepers set out for the day. The men started off on ponies so as to get over 
the ground without fatigue. When the line of heather was reached the ponies 
were left behind in the charge of boys. Here the party separated. The 
oldest keeper, much to his disgust, was sent with our friend, for the Scotchman 
found out that his charge was a "yankee." The old keeper's knowledge of 
the Americas was limited, so he summed up the entire population in one 
contemptuous term But before the day was over things came to pass that 
changed the hardy highlander's opinions. 

The pair set off at a sharp pace and the keeper's eye twinkled approvingly 
when he saw the guest striding easily alongside him, step for step. At last 
they reached the brow of a splendid hill and scanned the valley beneath. On 
the farther side a fine stag was seen feeding and was immediately marked. 

Now to get within striking distance it was necessary to make a detour 
of about four miles, and this was found later on to be nearer five, for the stag- 
had wandered on a mile or more while the two men were approaching. Keep- 
ing in the right wind the men stalked very cautiously. A new difficulty 
presented itself, for the cover came to an end, and it was impossible to get 
closer without being seen. The hunter and the keeper were all but winded 
for they had done the last quarter of a mile on hands and knees, taking 
advantage of every scrap of cover afforded by brush and rock. Lying in the 
shade of a large boulder the hunter prepared to fire. The old keeper looked 
anxiously at the American and said — "careful now, you'll get nae second 
shot at yon beastie." Just then the report of a gun far away, rang out sharp 
and clear. The stag looked up instantly in alarm. It paused with one foot 
in the air and then prepared to run. At its first movement the hunter fired 
and the splendid creature fell stone dead. The old keeper was silent a 
moment and then said. " My ! but you're a bonny lad with the gun." 
From that instant their friendship was sealed. 

While waiting for the " follower " to come up, the two men got to talking 
and then it was that the sturdy highlander found that his man was no green- 




A STAG BELLOWING A CHALLENGE T(> A HI^ ^L. 



HUNTING DEER 

Deer hunting is quite a different sport in the United States to what it is in 
Scotland. There the deer Hve in "forests" which are really open mountains 
and only covered in spots by trees. Keeping up a deer forest is a very expen- 
sive business for the amount of fun that the owner gets out of it. Some time 
ago it was reported that every deer killed by sportsmen in Scotland cost over 
seven hundred dollars per head. 

A gentleman who was invited to a deer shoot in the Highlands gives this 
account of the sport. A party of six composed of three men and three deer 
keepers set out for the day. The men started off on ponies so as to get over 
the ground without fatigue. When the line of heather was reached the ponies 
were left behind in the charge of boys. Here the party separated. The 
oldest keeper, much to his disgust, was sent with our friend, for the Scotchman 
found out that his charge was a "yankee." The old keeper's knowledge of 
the Americas was limited, so he summed up the entire population in one 
contemptuous term But before the day was over things came to pass that 
changed the hardy highlander's opinions. 

The pair set off at a sharp pace and the keeper's eye twinkled approvingly 
when he saw the guest striding easily alongside him, step for step. At last 
they reached the brow of a splendid hill and scanned the valley beneath. On 
the farther side a fine stag was seen feeding and was immediately marked. 

Now to get within striking distance it was necessary to make a detour 
of about four miles, and this was found later on to be nearer five, for the stag: 
had wandered on a mile or more while the two men were approaching. Keep- 
ing in the right wind the men stalked very cautiously. A new difficulty 
presented itself, for the cover came to an end, and it was impossible to get 
closer without being seen. The hunter and the keeper were all but winded 
for they had done the last quarter of a mile on hands and knees, taking 
advantage of every scrap of cover afforded by brush and rock. Lying in the 
shade of a large boulder the hunter prepared to fire. The old keeper looked 
anxiously at the American and said — "careful now, you'll get nae second 
shot at yon beastie." Just then the report of a gun far away, rang out sharp 
and clear. The stag looked up instantly in alarm. It paused with one foot 
in the air and then prepared to run. At its first movement the hunter fired 
and the splendid creature fell stone dead. The old keeper was silent a 
moment and then said. " My ! but you're a bonny lad with the gun." 
From that instant their friendship was sealed. 

While w-aiting for the " follower" to come up, the two men got to talking 
and then it was that the sturdy highlander found that his man was no green- 



MUNTixc. I)i:i:r 
horn as he had supposed, but that he had fohowed the deer hi the ^'^"^^ 
Wyoming, Cahfornia and other places. At ktst the pony arrived and the stag 
was hois! d onto its baek and a return made to the house. The other tuo 
leep s were met on the way home and both of then, were ,n deep d.sgtast 
and looking very .sulky. The guests had eaeh nfssed , one an easy and the 
other a dilcult shot, and ,vere now loud m e.xpl anafons of how it happened . 

The true stai; is a ' 

splendid creature having 
large antlers with many 
points. These points in- 
crease in number as the 
stag grows older. The 
stags are quarrelsome and 
very jealous of each other. 
In the mating season great 
battles take place for the 
possession of the does. 
As a rule these creatures 
go in herds, composed of 
young half grown males, 
does and their fawns — all 
under the rule and leader- 
ship of a splendid antlered 
stag. The stags are very 
timid and take alarm at 
the least unusual noise; 
also their sight and sense 
of smell is excellent. 

Fallow deer are in 
great request as ornaments 
to private parks. They 
soon become very tame 
and may be approached 
without danger. There 
is one period of the year 

however when it isn't safe . . 

to go near any of the deer family, for at this time they are very uncertain m 
temper. These fits correspond to the "must " periods of the elephants, i here 





DEER COMING OUT INTO THE OPEN. 



DEER HUxNTING 




chance, and nunk and gluttons account for nunibcrs of the missing tawns. 
Deer in England are hunted after the manner of foxes. The dogs used are 
larger and more powerfully built than the foxhound, but nevertheless the 
two look a good deal alike when seen side by side. 

The Exmoor Country is the head-quarters of the stag hunting and a turn- 
out is a sight to see. The pack of dogs often number over one hundred and 
fifty head and perhaps there will be half as many riders following them. 




MAKTLXb Al 1 AC KINO A I AWN 




A KANGAROO HUNT. 



THE KANGAROO. 



The Kangaroo lives in Aus- 
tralia. It is usually found in small 
companies, and always in charge of 
a leader. The kangaroo was first 
discovered by Captain Cook, in New 
South Wales, in 1770, and it is said 
that when the sailors asked the na- 
tives the name of the strange animal 
they replied, " Kangaroo," which, as a 
matter of fact, meant in their lan- 
guage, "What do you say?" How- 
ever, this name has remained un- 
changed ever since. 

The skin of the kangaroo makes 
very fine leather, and its flesh is good 
to eat. The native Australians say 
that it affords the best hunting on 
the continent. The men ride on 
horse-back, while a pack of large, 
fierce hounds follow the kangaroo, 
which goes over the ground at a 

curious gait, consisting of a series of immense leaps. Its hind legs are of 
great size and strength, and when brought to bay the creature defends itself 
with kicks. The front legs are very small, and do not seem to be of much use 
except to convey food to the mouth. When a kangaroo is chased by hunters, 
it has an odd habit of looking back over its shoulder, and instances have been 
known where it has collided with a tree, and thus brought itself to an untimely 
end. 

Perhaps the most wonderful part of the kangaroo is the pouch in which it 
carries its young. The baby kangaroo, when first born, is not much over an 
inch or two in length, and for about eight months it lives in this pouch, until it 
is strong enough to hop about beside its mother. The doe kangaroo is very 
watchful of her young, for at the least suspicion of danger, the youngster 
scrambles into the pouch, and away goes the mother in gigantic leaps. The 
kangaroo thrives well in England. Quite a number have been brought from 
Australia, and are now to be seen in some of the parks, hopping about quite 
comfortably. They breed freely, too, and appear to stand the damp climate 
very well. When Captain Cook first discovered the kangaroo, they roamed 




THE TREE KANGAROO. 

everywhere in great numbers from 
little ones, the size of a rabbit, to 
the old fellows, as tall as a man; 
but now they are becoming very 
rare, and it looks as though many 
species might become extinct. 

At present the kangaroo is lim- 
ited to the less frec|uented bush 
lands, far from the towns. 

The kangaroo can be taught to 
box with boxing-gloves. This is 
sometimes seen in a circus, but the 
show is always attended with some 
little danger, for the instant the kan- 
garoo thinks it is getting the worst 
of it. it will kick, and a kick from 
a full-grown kangaroo means great 
injury, if not death outright. 

THE TREE KANGAROO. 

In New Guinea is found the 

Tree Kangaroo. It seems odd 

to think that one of this curious 

tribe of animals should be able to 

climb trees, but nevertheless it is a fact. The tree kangaroo scales the trees 

with great ease in its search for leaves and wild fruit, on which it lives. 

The natives of New Guinea always try to avoid killing the tree kangaroo. 
Any native who should be unlucky enough to kill one by accident is imme- 
dia ely sent away into the forest by his companions, for fear of his bringing bad 
luck to the tribe, and no one is allowed to go near him, or take him any food 
As venomous snakes and dangerous wild animals abound in the jungles the 
native exile seldom comes back again. 

But little is known of this animal in its wild state, beyond the fact that it 
is very sly and silent. Its fur is beautiful, and of a rich dark colon There is 
also another climbing kangaroo which lives among the rocks, and by its ex- 
traordinary power of leaping from one bowlder to another, defies all pursuit 
This is its way of escaping when chased by a pack of dingo dogs. 




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A ZULU HUMIR AND HIS FROPHIEb 



A MIGRATION OF THE SPRING BOKS 
One of the most wonderful of the antelope family found in South Africa 
is the Sprintr Bok. While running, the animal has a hab.t of leapms; .n the 
air sometimes as high as ten feet; henee its name,-" Spring Bok. 

At certain times generally about onee in five years, the Sprmg Boks 
make the most marvelous ntigrations. No one seems to k-- i;'' ; .^^ 
these long journeys are undertaken. There ,s one cunous fact, however, 
vl eh thrms a hgtt upon the subject: and that is that whenever the Sprmg 
1 o ks mb^ra.e the section of country that they move out of ,s almost eertatn 
Ob isHed by famine. Therefore it wotdd seem that n, s.nnc mysterious 
way thise animals are able to know a long time ahead when then- food supply 

""' Twotemlenren who were hunting in the northern part of the Transvaal 
had been «eleonred into the house of a Boer ranchman Soon after sundown 
tl e r host returned home and told the hunters that if they were w.llmg to go 
vvith him in the morning he would show them a sight that would make them 
open their eyes. Of course they asked what they were to see, but all they 
Xld get out of him was that the " Boks were movtng." The whole party 
went to bed for a few hours to get some rest. , . ,j .1 

Lone, before dawn the Boer came and roused his guests and told then 

it was tinte to be off After a hasty breakfast they mounted their horses and 

e tout afa "aHop ' The Boer lead'the way across the rolling veldt untd they 

camTtoa'^Sther ranch-house where a party of men were waitmg to go with 

h n In answer to the Boer's question a Kafl^r told thent that the Spring 

Boks were in the flat of the ^-aUey about fi^■e miles away. t -»%''"''« ,° 

take a long ride following the shape of a half moon, so as to head oH the held, 

f poLibl ° After a long gallop the party suddenly came in sig- t .^ e 

valley The hunters then saw a sight which they are never likely to forget. 

r far as the eye could reach the land seemed one mo^■lng mass of animals. 

The -aichmem accustomed to estimating the number o sheep, in arge 

h ■ Is b gin to ask each other how many Spring Boks could be seen. When 

they had all looked closely they agreed that there must have been nearly hah 

a million animals in si;^'ht. . , , -u tu^ 

After a while the leaders of the herd came up quite close to where the 
men were standing and immediately everyone opened fire at short range. 
?he cracks of the Hfles terrified the herd, and they began a mad stampede 
Fo some tin e the aninrals could be seen rushing about in all directions, and 
In ■ verything was blotted out in the huge cloud of dust nused by their w d, 
rshinl fLt. Occasionally there would be a break m the dust cloud and .he 




SPRlNG-BOkS .MIGRATING. 



A MI(,R.\IIO\ OF Till- SI'KIXG BOK5^ 

hunters couicl sec that the mighty band was still moving swiftly on. The 
men shc^ until they were tired, and succeeded in kilhng many more than they 
could carry away. Toward sundown the last of the herd passed north, 
followed by an army of birds of prey, jackals, hyenas, and an occasional 
leopard. The wild animals were so intent upon killing the Spring Boks that 
for a while they seemed to leave each other alone, and a band of hyenas and 
jackals would be seen running almost within springing distance of a lion. 

As a rule, the Spring Bok is rather a difficult animal to shoot. A hunter 
once spent a whole day trying to get within gun shot of a small herd. He 
knew that if they once got wind of, or caught sight of, him, the whole herd 
uould vanish as if by magic. At length, after long waiting, he made his 
way to a rock from behind which he was able to take aim. Just as he was 
about to raise his rifle he noticed not a hundred yards away a movement in 
the grass, and before he could make out what was causing it a magnificent 
lion with 'a roar sprang out and brought down the largest buck of the herd. 
The hunter fired at the lion who, astonished at the noise, sprang up angrily 
from its prey and looked around. The shot evidently missed, for the lion 
seized the Spring Bok in its mouth and moved off, growling fiercely. In 
spite of all his efforts, the hunter failed to come within sight of the herd after 
that, and had to give up the chase. 

Another hunter once managed to creep up quite close to A\here about a 
dozen Spring Boks were feeding. Suddenly he noticed that they were greatly 
excited evidently by something they could see in the grass. Presently a 
huge snake crept into sight. It was tossing its head from side to side, hissing 
venomously, and trying to escape. The hunter was curious to see what the 
animals would do, so he crouched down and watched. The Spring Boks all 
collected in a ring and then took turns in leaping in the air and bringing 
their four, sharp, pointed, hcjofs down together upon the snake's back. The 
reptile struck out viciously but did not seem to injure the animals. Soon the 
hunter saw that the snake was bleeding and showing signs of weakness. 
Then all the animals joined in the fray leaping and dashing together over the 
spot where the snake lay. In a few minutes every spark of life had been 
trampled out of the great reptile. 

The hunter, in his anxiety to see the struggle, had risen on his knees, 
when the leader saw him the herd instantly stampeded. 

Although he did not get a shot, the hunter could rejoice at having seen 
the Spring Boks kill a snake in the wa\- of which he had so often heard, and 
which had so often been dubbed as a lie. 



STORIES OF THE ORANG-UTAN 

Nearly all Museums throughout the United States contain stuffed 
specimens of the Orang-utan, but very few Zoos contain a live one, for the 
reason that the great ape is very difficult to catch, and moreover it does not 
live long when removed from its native home. 

The orang-utan is found in the Island of Sumatra which, as you Mill see 
by the map, is next door to Java in the Malay Archipelago. This great 
island is one of a chain that joins Borneo and Siam to Australia. 

In its native land the orang is often called the " Mias." This ape is 
enormous in bulk and strength. Its arms are nearly as long as its entire 
body. Being an ape it has no tail. Its fur is long and coarse, and is of a 
reddish tint. When seen in a strong light it looks fiery. Its jaw is very large 
and its brain space small in proportion to the size of the head. Its chest is^a 
marvel of muscular strensfth. 

o 

Mr Wallace, the great English naturalist, was the first man t-o call attention 
to the orang, for he went out to Sumatra and studied the beast in its native 
haunts. Furthermore he is said to have been the first man to bring a live 
specimen to England. 

In one way the orang is unlike any other large ape in that it builds a nest, 
or more properly speaking, a hammock of green-leaved boughs in which it' 
sleeps. Now the gorilla is so fierce that very few animals can live near it, but 
this is^ not so in the case of the orang as it is not nearly as quarrelsome. 
Near its haunts numerous monkeys, small animals and birds are to be found. 

Capturing the orang is a task which takes the utmost nerve and skill. In 
fact it is almost useless to try and get an old fellow, for by the time it is caged 
it is sure to have been mortally wounded in the struggle. 

A traveller who had seen the natives of Sumatra tackle the orang in its 
native haunts gave this account of the fight. The party searched the forest 
for some time until they came upon an old male, its mate and a young one. 
The female, clutching her baby, scrambled off" at once while the male formed 
the rear guard and prepared to beat off any attack. The huge creature was 
a terrible sight. It roared and beat its chest with its clenched fists— its fiery 
hair standing erect, a picture of diabolical fury. 

The orang advanced upon its enemies and singling out one big fellow 
with a spear rushed upon him. The man stood his'ground bravely^ enough 
but the beast was too quick for him, and seizing the stout spear broke^it 
as though it were a twig and at the same time bit the man's left arm off. It 
then turned its attention to the others but was overcome by numbers. At 
last it fell dead after having been thrust through the body with spears. 







AN ORANG-UTAN AT BAY 



STORIES OF THE ORy\NG-UTAN 

The orang is never trapped for no man has yet succeeded in making a 
a trap that one will enter and at the same time be strong enough to hold it 
when its anger is aroused. No one would doubt this statement for a moment 
if they had ever beheld such a creature in a passion. 

On another occasion a hunter, single handed, killed a mother orang with 
a clean rifle shot through the heart. A little orang was clinging to her breasts 
and crying like a human baby. He seized the youngster and started to make 
his way back but he had not gone far when he heard a crashing of branches 
behind him. He turned and saw that the male orang was hot upon his trail. 
He discovered to his alarm that an orang could swing itself along through 
the trees with nearly the same speed that he could run on foot. He had 
sense enough to drop the baby and fly. The orang paused to pick up the 
little one and this hampered its progress and allowed the hunter time to 
escape. A day later the hunter was anxious to return and see if he could 
find the baby orang again, but the natives begged him not to, for they told 
him that the chances of losing his life were much more numerous than those 
of getting his prize. As a matter of fact the male orang raged through the 
forest for several nights and filled the natives with the greatest fear. 

The only thing that the orangs stand in terror of are the great snakes. 
On one occasion a pair of orangs left their young one sound asleep in their 
hammock and went off in search of food knowing that no small beast would 
dare touch it. But a mighty serpent who was travelling through the trees 
spied the baby and proceeded to steal it. Slowly but surely the snake crept 
closer to its prey until it was near enough to strike. Like lightning it wound 
its coils around the poor youngster. The most piteous squeals were heard 
and soon there was a loud crashing of branches as the old orang-s were 
hastening to the rescue. The snake heard them coming too and unbound its 
coils and allowed the baby to go loose, but it fell helplessly to the ground. 
The snake prepared to do battle, as well it might, for the orangs were close 
upon it. When they saw their baby stretched out their rage knew no bounds. 
With hoarse cries they advanced upon their enemy and a fight ensued which 
it is not often man's lot to witness. The noise was terrific. Troops of 
monkeys screaming in alarm, swung from the upper branches, while thousands 
of parrots and tropical birds wheeled above the tree tops adding their cries to 
the din. The snake struck the first blow and wound its coils around the 
mother orang, while with its head it endeavoured to keep the male off But 
two to one gained the day. The male orang bleeding in half a dozen places 
at once, kept up the fight until it got the snake's head in its hands and then 



STORIES OF ITIM ORANG-UTAN 

by sheer strength crushed it and dragged the body coil for coil from its mate 

The snake, now lifeless, fell among some rocks where the orangs followed 

It and literally tore it to pieces. Then they went to look at the baby. Life 

was still flickering in its poor litde body, and the mother, disregarding her 

own wounds, picked it up and nesded it to her. But it was too late, for the 

injured little thing 

soon died in its 

mother's arms. The 

parents set up loud 

cries and beat theii 

breasts in anguish 

The next day the 

mother was seen 

still holding hei 

dead youngster in 

her arms. 

Orangs un- 
doubtedly fear 

snakes. Several 

stories are told of 

men who could 

cfive a lifelike im- 

itation of the hiss 

of a snake, and 

thereby cause die 

great apes to crouch 

in a corner and 

quake with terror 
All monke) s 

and apes in fact feai 

snakes and leopards 

for both these 

creatures are their 
deadly enemies and 
moreover can fol- 
low them through 
the trees so that 





AN ORANG-UTAN AT HOME. 



STORIES OF THI' ( JRAXC-U IAN 

they are never safe. When you hear a colony of monkeys break into an 
uproar in the middle of the night you may be sure that a snake has got among 
them and carried off one of their number. The only means of defense that the 
monkeys have is to get cocoanuts and stones and drop them on their enemy. 

The strength of the orang is very great. Many incidents have occured 
wherein the ape has twisted a gun barrel as though it were made of Avire, and 
even solid iron has yielded in its grasp. It will grip and break with one 
hand a tree branch that would take the strength of several men to do likewise. 
It can lift enormous weights with out any effort at all. A story is told of 
an orang that A\as brought to London and, as the keepers thought, safely 
caged for the night. The next morning the bars were found bent asunder 
and the ape nowhere to be seen. Consternation reigned in the Zoo. The 
news spread like wild-fire and people fled in all directions. Eventually the 
orang was found in a dark corner, very cold and hungry. It was coa.xed 
back into the cage in which it had been brought from the docks and from 
there transferred to another home, this time of strong steel. 

In captivity the orang is gentle and not nearly as treacherous as some 
of the apes, but this is only as long as it is well treated and never teased. It 
will remember an injury for a long time and its vengeance is terrible if it ever 
gets a chance to wreak it. 

The house in which orangs are to be kept must be very dry for when 
they are placed near damp they soon get consumption and die. For so large 
and strong an animal they are exceedingly delicate. 

When baby orangs are sick they allow themselves to be doctored and 
will submit to being tucked up in blankets and kept warm just like children. 
They seem to know by instinct that it is being done for their own good. 

Orangs are intelligent and can be taught many tricks and even be made 
to sit up at a table and eat with a spoon and use a napkin. Kipling, in one 
of his books, tells of a Frenchman who lived in Sumatra and who had caught 
an orang when a baby and tamed it. The orang would fetch his slippers, 
sit in a chair at table and smoke cigars just like a human being. All went 
well for a few years until the Frenchman married a wife. The orang imme- 
diately became very jealous and one day, when its master was out of the way, it 
strangled the woman. Sometimes when orangs-utans are caged near other 
apes they become quite friendly, especially if they are young, and they will 
play together through the bars. They love to get hold of a piece of looking 
glass or colored ribbon. They will work themselves up into a great excite- 
ment and have a rough and tumble scramble for its possession. 




A SICK BABY ORANG-UTAN. 



STORIES OF THE ORANG-UTAN 

Orang-Utans eat nothing but fruit when they are wild, and they pick out 
the best. When caged however they will sometimes eat warm boiled rice. 
Pineapples and oranges they dearly love as any one can testify who has 
seen a keeper approach their cage holding one of these fruits in his hand. 
They leap up and down just like naughty children and scream and shake the 
bars of their cage until the dainties are handed in to them. 

What the Gorilla is to the West Coast of Africa the Orang-Utan is to 
the Far East; although there is a great difference between the two creatures. 
The orang is not nearly as fierce, nor as large as its cousin, and moreover 
the one is colored red while the other is slaty black. 

One dav a hunter who was looking for small game birds suddenly came 
face to face with a full grown male orang-utan. It was the first time he had 
seen the ape and for a few minutes he lost all sense of fear, so interested 
was he in looking at the great creature. The orang, on its part, had evidently 
never seen a white man before. After the pair had looked at each other to 
their heart's content, the orang turned round and went about its business- 
At no time did it show any signs of anger or attempt to injure the, hunter. 
The natives do not hold the orang in the terror that Africans do the gorilla, 
but their feeling is rather one of awe, for they know perfectly well that the 
" red one" must be left alone or else it will revenge itself upon its enemies 
in dreadful fashion. 

Small boys flatter themselves that they are good climbers, but they 
should see an orang "hand over hand" up a big tree; with its enormous 
stretch of arms it is able to move at great speed. The leopard is reckoned 
a good climber but the orang would overtake it in no time. 

A full grown male orang-utan, in perfect health and strength, frequently 
measures over seven feet when its arms are included, and this is no beast for 
a poor miserable man to tackle unless he has the best of rifles and is sure of 
his aim. He will but seldom kill an orang at the first shot, and the best he 
can hope to do is to check its rush but woe betide him if he misses altogether, 
for in spite of its great bulk the orang-utan is wonderfully quick and will 
charge its enemy like lightning. 

Many a hunter has paid with his life for his ignorance while hunting 
this great ape. The orang does not seem to be so very strong and its 
clumsy build, and shuffling movements give the impression that it is not agile, 
but no greater mistake can be made. The natives of Sumatra tell many 
stories of the orang-utans and their feats of strength and great endurance, 
and surely they ought to know what they arc talking about. 




A MEETING AMONG THE BRANCHES. 



A SERVAL MEETS A SNAKE 

It has been said that at one period of the worlds' history, man made a 
pet of an animal very like, but much larger than, the ordinary cat. Now if 
the people of today were to need a more powerful cat than the one they 
have, the Serval would probably get the job. 

The serval is much larger than the " tabby," but smaller than the 
mountain lion ; the latter itself is not a very big member of its family. The 
serval is easily tamed and becomes very affectionate and playful, but it is 
more or less of a dangerous creature to have around. As long as it is not 
teased, or its temper aroused, it is safe enough, but once it is angry no 
unarmed man could face it. Its claws and teeth are long and sharp. 

The serval is pretty, graceful and wonderfully active. It is long-legged 
and is able to spring great distances. It can climb very well when it 
wants to although it does not often do so. 

A traveller, while passing through a small jungle, saw a serval intently 
watching some birds. It was unaware of the man-enemy behind and 
consequently gave a good opportunity to observe its movements. The birds 
also did not know that danger was lurking so near them. After creeping as 
close as it dared, without alarming its prey, it sprang. The distance was 
too great and the birds got away. The serval had come so swiftlv, that the 
birds did not try to rise in the air, but scudded along a few feet from the 
ground. The serval followed one particular bird at a pace that would put a 
racehorse to shame. Suddenly the bird swerved into the branches of a 
small tree, and the serval, making one last spring, followed close behind. 

The bird was too quick and the serval crashed into the branches. In the 
fork of the tree was a large snake which raised its head and hissed angrily. 
The serval drew back growling fiercely, but not quite quick enough. The 
snake struck, but as it did so the serval grasped its head between its paws. 
Both combatants lost their grips, and rolled to the ground together. The 
snake immediately coiled and recoiled around its victim till its body looked 
like some huge whip-lash. The snake's advantage only lasted for a moment 
or two, for the serval, by sheer strength, clawed its enemy off. The snake 
was terribly lacerated, and its body was covered with blood. It turned over 
and over in its fight against death, but its wriggling soon grew less and less, 
until it ceased altogether. But the serval was even worse off. The snake 
had bitten again and again, and the deadly poison was making headway 
through its system. It lay with its tongue out and panting as though 
suffering from thirst. A few minutes later it was dead, and the white ants 
crept out of their nests to attend to both the bodies. 




\1 VI - ( I L BEING OSTRICHES 



OSTRICH HUNTING 

An Englishman staying in South Africa was invited to shoot some 
ostriches. He was posted behind a rock, while a horseman drove one of the 
large birds towards him. He did not take any very careful aim. He fired, 
and was disgusted to see the dust spattered two yards behind the fleeing 
bird. Then it was that he realized that he had shot, broadside on, at one of 
the swiftest of all living creatures. 

The arabs hunt the ostriches in the primitive way, that is from the 
saddle. To catch these large birds it is necessary to surprise them, for they 
can run at a terrific pace once they get started. Their legs are very long and 
powerful, causing them to move with a great swinging stride which often 
covers fifteen or twenty feet of ground. The Arabs mount their fleetest 
horses, and rush in among the ostriches, and club as many as they can reach. 

The ostrich sometimes defends itself, and it is said that an unarmed man 
on foot would stand no chance against an angry male bird. The toe of the 
ostrich is large and tough and sharp and is always used in fighting with a 
slashing, downward stroke. More than one white man has had his side 
ripped open, or his brains knocked out by a single blow. 

The ostrich used to be found in great numbers from Cape Colony to 
many degrees north, but it was rapidly killed off for the sake of its feathers. 
As long as the natives hunted it, the slaughter was not very great, but with 
the coming of the white man and the magazine rifle, all animal and bird life 
suffered. But even the white hunter has a grain of sense, for he has now 
taken to raising ostriches on farms for the sake of the feathers. 

The ostrich is ugly, vicious, clumsy and stupid. Even its feathers do 
not look to be worth much until the hand of man has dyed and curled them.. 
Its temper is especially bad and it is as obstinate as a mule. Its digestion is 
proverbial, for it will swallow bolts, screws, pieces of glass and things like 
that without apparently suffering any ill effects. You often hear people say 
that some one has the " digestion of an ostrich." 

On the Pampas of South America is to be found an ostrich which is not 
as large, nor as fine in feathers, as its African couiin. It is possible that the 
American species has degenerated, for thousands of years ago the ancient 
Peruvians wore the most magnificent feathers, which apparently came from 
this bird. The Indians hunt the South American ostrich with the lasso, or 
" bolas " — that is, a lasso having stones attached at either end of the rope. 
These stones when flung wind the rope around the ostrich's leg and thus 
cripple it completely. This " bolas," and the way it is used, has been fully 
described in other stories in this book. 







\MKs \1 ^^<>RK IN THE SPRING 



THE BEAVER. 

The Beaver has one of the most beautiful skins in the world. Its fur has 
become famous in Europe and America. The beaver is also noted for its 
skill as an engineer. As a rule, the beaver lives on the banks of small creeks 
and rivers, and to prevent the supply of water from running short, it makes 
wonderful dams. When an engineer wishes to dam up a stream, he usually 
begins by pile-driving; but this little animal-engineer goes at it another way. 
It lays the logs (which are from six to fifteen inches thick, and from two to six 
feet long) flat on the bed of the stream, and then heaps stones and mud upon 
them to keep them down. Gradually a dam rises out of the water. So clever 
are the beavers that they make the wall of the dam round if the current is very 
swift, so that the water cannot bear too much strain on one spot. If the water 
is sluggish, the dam is built straight across the stream. The skilful engineer- 
ing of the beaver is displayed best when a large dam is built, one as large as 
two hundred and fifty or three hundred and fifty yards in length. The bark 
of the logs is stripped off and stored away for the winter's food. 

The beavers themselves live in curious little houses called "lodges." 
They look for all the world like Esquimau huts. The walls are composed 
of moss, branches, and mud. While the house-building is going on in the 
spring, the beaver is open to attacks from its enemies, especially the wolver- 
ine, which is ever on the watch for the unwary ones. But when winter has 
set in, the beaver is safe. The fearful cold of the North turns the damp moss 
and mud of the lodge into a solid wall, which even the wolverine's strong 
claws cannot break through. As many as half a dozen beavers live in a lodge, 
each having a separate bed. The young are born early in the spring, and as 
soon as the ice breaks up they come out and accompany their parents. 

One often hears of beaver canals and wonders what they are for. Should 
a number of large trees, that the beaver needs, grow some distance from the 
dam, it digs a canal up to the place. It has very sharp teeth, which enable it 
to gnaw through the trees needed for its building purposes. These it cleverly 
fells so that they fall near the right spot; then it saws them with its teeth into 
proper lengths and floats them down to the dam. These canals are often 
over six hundred feet in length. This work can only be done when the 
ground is perfectly level. 

Toward spring, when the frost allows the beavers to come out once 
more, they look very thin and scraggy, but in a month they grow just as fat 
and plump as ever. The length of the beaver is from three to four feet. Its 
legs are short and it is a clumsy walker, and will never travel by land if it can 
go where it wants to by water. 




BEAVERS CONSTRUCTING A DAM. 



THE PRAIRIE DOGS 

Some time when you are out hunting you may stumble across a colony 
or " town " of prairie dogs. Don't shoot, for their skins are not worth much ; 
but if you will sit down and keep still they will amuse you for several hours. 
At first the prairie dogs will run away, but if you do not move, after a while 
one will creep out, and then another, until large numbers will be frisking 
and scampering around you like madcaps. 

Prairie Dogs are generally called "dogs" for short, although they are 
more like Jack-rabbits than fox terriers. They are funny little anmials and 
out West you hear many good stories told about them. Here is one of these 
stories, and we will tell you once for all that it is a true one. 

A long time ago these little dogs had more than their share of troubles, 
and this is how it all came about. The prairie dogs are lazy, just like little 
boys. In the old days they used to feed on the grass and leaves and any 
berries they could find, and it was often necessary for them to take long- 
journeys to get their food, for baby dogs have to be fed, and they are the 
hungriest little things in the world. Now some of the prairie dogs are 
wicked, just the same as men, and they are lazy, too, just the same as men. 
They thought it would be good fun to stay at home and steal the grass and 
grain from their hard working neighbors who had been away all day finding 
it. As soon as a prairie dog arrived home with his load of food and had 
gone off again to get more, these wicked dogs would creep into his burrow 
and steal it. After a while the thefts grew so numerous that a number of 
the dogs became disgusted, and in their own minds they thought it would 
be well to stay at home and steal from their neighbors. 

Every day fewer dogs went out to gather food, and more stayed at home 
to steal, until at last every one stayed at home, and then of course there was 
no food left. After a while the dogs began to get hungry and then to growl. 
One dog suggested that a neighbor of his who was very fat and prosperous 
go out and bring in food for the others. Now if you had ever seen a dog 
town you would know that great numbers of the little fellows live together, 
and the idea ofone dog providing food for all the others would be foolish on 
the face of it. That was what the prosperous dog thought and he said so 
very plainly. Meanwhile, the town grew hungrier. 

Now we are coming to the part where the selfish little dogs began to 
get into deeper trouble. Not far away from the town lived a family of 
wicked owls who had long been looking for a chance to come and make 
mischief among the dogs. The father of the owls looked ever so wise, and 
one day he flew over to see the Chief Dog, who was the Mayor of the town 



THE TRAIRIE DOGS 

and offered to help lum out of his troubles. The father of the ouls proposed 
that the dogs have a tax put upon them to keep the community from starving, 
-uid out of the tax provide food. The Mayor thought this a good idea, espec- 
iallv when the father of the owls pointed out that the dogs would not have 
to work all the tune but only some of the time. You know little prairie 
dogs are just like little bovs, and do not like to work any more than they 
can help The question soon arose as to who should collect the taxes, and 
the father of the owls said he and his familv would. Althou 'h it was a great 
inconvenience for them, nevertheless they loved the prairie dogs so much 
that they would make the sacrifice. The Mayor of the dog town was a 
simple little fellow and he believed all that the father of the owls told h.m. 
and they soon struck a bargain. _ 

The next dav the father of the owls moved his entire family, ^^•hlch in^ 
eluded his cousins and aunts and their families, into the dog town. The 
first question that came up was where were the owls to live, for there were 
no trees for them to build nests in. The owls said they would jus as soon 
live under-ground with the dogs. The dogs did not like this, but wha 
could they do ? The owls had sharp beaks and claws and they simply walked 
in and refused to move out. So you see that the litde dogs, who thought 
thev would be all right after the owls came, found themselves worse oft than 
before Whenever a dog could not pay his taxes the owls drove him out to 
u-ork-"and in fact, the whole band had to work harder than ever, for they 
had tiie owls to feed as well as themselves. All this trouble came from 

^"" Bye and bye the owls who were wicked-all owls are wicked-took to 
stealing, and thin to keeping the dogs out of their homes altogether so that 
their iftUe ones died with the cold. The dogs went to see the Mayor and 
asked his advice, but he only wept and said he could do nothing. He pointed 
out that even he had been put upon and showed a tear in his glossy coat, 
made by the father of the owls in a fit of spite. 

The poor httle dogs were getting very miserable and discouraged, when 
one day a change caine. The Mayor was trotting around on the outskirts 
of the town, when he heard a terrible hiss, which made him jump three times 
his own height in the air. Out of the grass came the sly and evil rattlesnake 
He asked politely after the health of his friend, the Mayor, and the whole of 
the town besides. The Mayor said he was " only fair and asked after the 
snake's family. After a while he took courage and sat down beside the sly 
and evil snake and told his troubles,-all about the lazy dogs, the taxes, the 




SNAKls \\|)()\\|s IN \ I'KMKll ])()(. I OWN. 



THE PRAIRIE DOGS 

owls and evervthin-. The sly and evil .nake's eyes glistened green and 
gray', and he whisked his tail around until it sounded like pease in a bladder, 
and he nearly frightened the poor little Mayor to death. 

" I see " he said, at length, " I must come and help you out of your 
difficulties ' You should never have let the owls into the town. Dear me, 
that was a mistake The only thing you can do now is to have some 
police to keep the town in order." , ,• .1 r i, 

" Wqiat are police ? " asked the Mayor, for he was a simple little fellow, 
and he was puzzled, not being sure that the word did not mean more work 
for the doers Poor little Mayor, he had no idea what was coming. 

The sly and evil one laughed to himself as he proceeded to enlighten 
his friend He waved his tail a few times and then spoke. 

" Men are bad just like dogs. Men are lazy and get themselves into 
trouble, just like your dogs. True, they have taxes and tax collectors, but 

they are kept in order." 

" How?" asked the mayor, who was getting interested. 

" With police." 

" What are they ?" 

" W^hy," answered the snake, " I am a policeman." 

" What do you do?" ,- j 1 4. 

" I make every one mind his own business ; allow no stealing, and let 
the tax collectors take only their just due; protect the little ones IVo.n harm, 
and do lots of other things." 

Well," said the Mayor, " won't you come and be a policeman in our 

town ?" ,1-111? 

This was just what the sly and evil snake wanted, so he said he would. 

The Mayor trotted back to his burrow in high spirits and told the dogs 
that their troubles were all over. Do you think they were ? I do not. We 

'''' Now the father of the owls wondered what the Mayor meant by his 
mysterious words, and he asked for an explanation, but the Mayor .aid, "Oh, 

nothing." . , • , , • . 1 1 «. ^1. 

The next day the sly and evil rattlesnake arrived with his trunk and took 
up his duties as policeman, and every thing was very nice for a day or two. 
Then the trouble began. The sly and evil one said that the town was too 
larcre for h,m to guard alone and he must go away and get help. The nex 
dav he came back and brought all his families with him, just as the father ot 
owls had done. The poor little dogs had to work harder than ever now, for 



THE PRAIRIE DOGS 

they had the sly and evil rattlesnakes to feed as well as themselves and the 
owls, and snakes in those days were very large and numerous. 

A few evenings later the sly and evil one called round to see the Mayor 
and said that he and his family could not work for nothing. The Mayor 
promised that they should have pay in plenty to eat ; but alas, the sly and 
evil one kept demanding more and more, until at last the poor little dogs 
came to the end of their resources. 

Then what do you think happened? The sly and evil rattlesnakes took 
to gobbling up the litde dogs. They did not eat all the dogs at once for 
that would have been foolish, but they ate a few here and a few there, and 
the poor little dogs became very unhappy. The Mayor thought it all over 
until his coat turned gray with fright, for he saw nothing in the future but 
the whole town becoming a meal for the sly and evil ones; and to make 
matters worse, the owls took to killing the little dogs, too. The rattlesnakes, 
although they were supposed to be good, honest policeman, made no efforts 
to prevent it. 

One day the Mayor went off to the prairie by himself to think what 
was best to be done, He sat down and cried hard, for he was so miserable 
that he wished he were dead, and lots of other things. 

Now the pendulum of a clock never swings so far but that it will come 
back. The tide never runs out on the ebb but that it will return with the 
flow. So it was with the dog town. Matters seemed to be very black, but 
a brighter time was at hand, and much nearer than the Mayor dreamed ; for 
the tide, so to speak, had already turned. Just at sunset, as the roller weeds 
were beginning to turn indigo blue in the evening light, the Mayor looked 
up, and what. do you think he saw standing right in front of him? Why, 
Brother Gray Squirrel. He greeted the Mayor in a friendly fashion and 
asked after his health and why he looked so sad. The Mayor was very sus- 
picious, and he had good reason to be, for was not this exactly the way that 
the father of owls and the sly and evil one had greeted him ? He did not 
want to make any more friends and to have worse evils befall the dogs; but 
still he did not see how the dogs could be made any more uncomfortable, 
and Brother Gray Squirrel was so merry, and played so many pranks, and 
laughed so much, that the poor little Mayor's heart warmed to him. It was 
not long before the two were sitting close together and the Mayor was tell- 
ing his troubles all over again. 

Brother Squirrel listened quietly to the end and then he remarked; 
" This is a bad business, but you never should have had anything to do with 



THE PRAIRIE DO(iS 



or the sly and evil rattlesnake.. But never nnnd, 1 tlmik I have a plan that 
,,ni r.d vou of vour enemies forever. Over the mountam there, and he 
pointed with his'forepaw to where the great snow peak loomed up all rosy 
in the setting sun, " there is a valley, a very nice plaee, and I thmk ,t would 
suit your people exactly. It all belongs to a cousin of mine, a b,g. good 
tempered old glizzly bear who would welcome you. , . ^ „ 

^. But." replied the Mayor, ''what would be the use of going, for the 

owls and the rattlesnakes would only follow us." ^ , ^. ^ • i 

" That is where my plan comes in. " replied the Brother Gray Squirrel. 

Then he looked cautiously around and said, "you don't think any one is 

listening, do you?" , , i i ■ 

"I don't know," replied the Mavor, "perhaps you had better whisper. 
So Brother Squirrel whispered his plan in the Mayor's ear. Prom time 
to time the two shook with laughter. They soon got up and wished each 
other good-night, the Mayor trotting off to his town with a lighter heart than 

he had had for months. . . 

The next day there seemed to be some excitement going on in the to \ n, 
the doo-s were frisking about as if something was going to happen. 1 he 
owls and the sly and evil ones did not notice anything amiss. but then they 
had c^rown verv sleepy and lazy of late. About sundown who should come 
mto town but Brother Gray Squirrel. He had a great reputation or wisdom 
but as a matter of fact he was only shrewd, and loved to frighten folk. The 
Mayor had told the dogs that he was coming and that they must no mind 
what he said. The owls and the snakes all came out to hear what Brothei 
Squirrel had to say, for they knew that he was very smart. 
^" Brother Gray Squirrel looked over the town for a second or two and 
then he said " In an hour's time the black spirit will come, and every snake 
or bird he can find above ground will die. Behold. I ^^^'.^^'^ l"^,. 
This news threw the rattlesnakes and owls into a panic Thty rushed 
about trying to hide, and in less than five minutes they were all below ground 
in the burrows, shaking with fear. Now if they had not been in such a hurry 
but had looked around them they would have seen that on he top of the 
do-s' mounds beside the burrow holes there were extra little heaps. What 
wa's under the heaps ? We shall see. No sooner had the last sly and evil one 
vanished than Brother Gray Squirrel screamed, " Now is the time ! 

Everything had been carefully arranged and the dogs were only waiting 
for orders' so at the word they threw the earth off the little extra heaps, and 
what do you think they brought out? Why, lots of little spades and shovek. 



THE PRAIRIE DOGS 

They fell to work in earnest and piled the earth and stones down the tunnels 
of their homes, which were now full of shivering snakes and owls. If any 
one had been told that the prairie dogs were lazy and had come at that 
moment to see, he would have thought it all a mistake. The dogs were so 
excited that they threw the dirt in between their legs, over their heads and 
every way, and all the while Brother Gray Squirrel ran about screaming, 
" The black spirit is coming !" After a while there was quiet and the dogs 
had time to rest. They had done a good work, for every owl and snake had 
had been smothered in the homes of the poor little dogs whom they had been 
tormenting so long. Then the Mayor collected all his dog people together 
and they marched off with Brother Gray Squirrel for a leader. 

Early the next day they found themselves on the side of the great 
mountain. Brother Gray Squirrel pointed out a wood where they could rest 
and where there were leaves and berries to eat. Soon they had to move on 
again and the baby dogs had to be carried, for the way was rough and steep. 
At length they reached a valley, the desire of a prairie dog's heart, and they 
were just thinking how lucky they were when they heard a terrible growling. 
The dogs nearly died of fright, but Brother Gray Squirrel said that it must be 
his cousin, the Grizzly Bear. He went forward and bye and bye they saw 
him chatting away with a huge bear. Brother Squirrel told his cousin what 
troubles the prairie dogs had been through. The bear shuffled forward and 
in his gruff, kind hearted way bade them welcome and told them that if they 
would not steal his honey they might stay in the valley. This the dogs 
agreed not to do and thereafter they lived in peace, under the protection of 
their mighty neighbor, and you may be sure no one disturbed them. 

Often in the evening the bear, after his day's hunting was over, would 
come down and watch the dogs at play. The mountain side would echo 
with his laughter as he watched the the little rascals chase each other and 
play their many pranks. As for the Mayor, his coat turned brown again and 
he grew wondrous fat; but he never lost the scar which he received from 
the father of the owls. The bear was always very polite to the Mayor, for 
he thought that he really was a great dog. 

You see the little prairie dogs got into trouble all through being lazy. 
"What became of Brother Squirrel?" you ask. Oh, he went off just as 
soon as he saw his friends, the dogs, comfortably settled under the protection 
of his cousin, the bear " Where is he now?" " I do not know, but he is 
sure to be up to mischief somewhere. Maybe we shall hear of him again 
some time. Who can tell?" 



THE SQUIRRELS. 
The Rrr> Squirrel is a splendid little creature, typifying xviUl careless 
„avety and absnrd shrewdness and gravit)-. It is cu.nnu.n a 1 oxer Southern 
Europe and especially so in England. It lives in s.nall ,u,n,bcrs rn the beeeh 
tu fir «'oods, or near the great oaks. Its size is about that of an overgrown 
kitten Its eyes are bright and black, while its ears, wh.eh are large ami 
upright, ha\e a tuft of hair on the ends. 
Its tail is large and bushy and is usu- 
ally carried curled over its back. Like 
the dormouse, it sits upright when eating 
or playing sentinel. 

The squirrel builds a nest which at 
a distance looks like a crow's. In fact, 
it sometimes uses an old crow's nest 
instead of building one of its own. The 
nest is carefully lined with moss and 
leaves, and here the young squirrels are 
born and brought up. They are the 
prettiest little creatures, very gentle, and 
make excellent pets, but are hard to raise 
in cages. In the early morning, the squu"- 
rel comes dow^n from the trees to feed 
on the wind-blown chestnuts and acorns 
Then, as the sun gets higher, it goes 
back to the trees. The squirrel rarely 
comes to the ground except to feed. It 
alarmed, it races along the ground with 
a jumping gallop, but when it reaches 
the trees nothing can follow it. It 
springs from branch to branch with as- 

tounctintr leai)S. If, by any chance, it .,.1 

misses fts footing, it spreads out its bushy tail and comes sadmg down as 

li'T-ht as a feather. , . ,. 

" The squirrel has many enemies. The game-keeper shoots it for gnaw- 
ino- the ba4 from the young trees. Then the weasel and stoat are ever on 
the watch to pounce upon it while feeding, and up m the branches the^ 
is always a danger of being swooped down upon by the sparrow-hawk. Las 
of all is the persistent small boy. Throughout all parts of rural England , 
IS considered great sport to hunt the squirrel. The usual method is to ^^alt 




M _.* 



THE SQUIRRELS. 



until a squirrel comes down to feed, and then slyly get between it and the 
woods and so contrive to drive it to an isolated tree. Then one ot the boys 
climbs up into the tree while the others form a circle around the trunk. The 
squirrel mounts higher and higher into the thin branches, chattermg with rage 
all the while. At last it is shaken from its perch and leaps wildly into the air. 
Immediately, caps, sticks, and stones 
are thrown at it, and often after the 
confusion is over M.ister Squirrel is 
seen scampering back to the high 
trees. The squirrel's chance of get- 
ting away is good ; but sometimes 
the boys are accompanied by a half- 
dozen curs, and then the little creat- 
ure has a hard time to keep from 
being worried by them. 

THE GRAY SQUIRREL. 

The Gray Squirrel is found 
in the warmer parts of the United 
States. For instance, it is very 
common throughout California. It 
is a bright, playful little creature, 
and very active. The gray squir- 
rels live in small colonies, choosing 
by preference rocky ground. They 
dig the earth away from between 
the rocks, so as to make sheltered 
burrows, and then well-cleared paths are made leading to the burrow-holes. 

These squirrels, although they will take up their abode within a stone's 
throw of a house, are very cautious and hard to approach. They always post 
one of their number on high ground to act as sentinel, and the moment it 
sees anything it does not understand it gives a shrill bark and all the squirrels 
rush off to their burrows, chattering shrilly. This happened times out of num- 
ber at a certain ranch-house where a number of squirrels had made a burrow 
in the rocks at the rear. Several times a day the dogs would rush up and try 
to take the squirrels by surprise, but every time the latter proved too nimble. 
In fact, the dogs were never known to catch a single squirrel. 




RED SQUIRREL (X Natural Size). 



THE PORCUPINE AND THE DOG. 

One day a good sized dog was fool enough to try and kill a poreupine 
and in consequence got much the worst of the affray. In many parts of 
Europe it is thought good sport to find a hole where a porcupine lives, and 
then build a straw fire at one end until the beast is smoked out. But these 
hunters never take big dogs with them only litile nimble terriers. Of course 
when the dogs are only puppies they rush at the porcupine, and then sprmg 
away yelling with pain. There is only one part of the porcupine safe to 
attack, and that is its under-body and that is by no means easy to reach, as 
you can see by looking at the picture. Now terriers are small and quick, and 
they surround the porcupine on all sides, yelping with excitement. If they 
only have a little patience and watch, their prey is sure to make a sudden turn 
and leave its under-body exposed. Even then they must be on the alert, 
and move like lighting or the porcupine is sure to drive them off". 

The dog in the picture was 
,1 stranger in porcupine country, 
and of course when it first saw 
such a beast, it stared at it in 
astonishment, and then barking 
oudly rushed at it. The porcu- 
pine presented its quills and 
> the dog was soon in a 
very miserable 
plight. It 

sprang to one 
side with many 
: )f the quills 
licking out all 
n\er its body- 
The porcupine 
then ran away 
aid the dog 
declined to 
follow it, and \'OU may be sure it never forgot the experience. 

If you were to examine the end of a porcupine's quill, ^^•ith a powerful 
mao-nifying glass, you would find that it was barbed in several places like a 
fish\ook When 'the barbs enter any fleshly part of the body they stick 
there and then it takes quite a pull to get them out. On the other hand the 
porctlpines quills are very loosely attached to its skin for they appear to 




..Gik' 



THE PORCl'PINE AND THE DOG 

almost drop out when the points stick into an)thing'. 

The porcupine is slow in its movements and it has no teeth or claws 
worth speaking of, and yet, in consequence of its array of quills, there is no 
animal livimj in the woods that is less interferred with. 

On one occasion a hunter who was stalking big game observed a 
porcupine pass into a open space below him. The hunter at the time was 
standing in the fork of a large tree some thirty feet from the ground. For 
many minutes he watched the animal's movements with great interest, as he 
had never been as close to one before. The porcupine dug up a few roots 
and was leisurely eating them when suddenly it paused ; its body seemed 
to stiffen, and with good reason. Out of the shadows came stalking a 
beautiful leopard. Its evil green eyes were glistening as it looked upon the 
prickl}- one. The leopard studied the porcupine from all sides walking 
slowly round and round and snarling the while. Suddenly it sprang, and in 
the only way it could hope to do with safety that is, straight at the head so 
that the quills would be pointed away. The porcupine, for once in its life, 
was quick and gots its quills stuck out, with the result that the leopard landed 
on a veritable pin cushion. The big cat sprang away roaring with pain, its 
paws and sides bristling with quills, while the porcupine shuffled oft" under 
some large tree roots to a place of safety. The hunter saw his chance and 
fired. When the smoke cleared away the leopard was on its back kicking 
its heels in the air in its last struggle. The leopard's skin was badly torn 
by the quills, and a close examination proved that this was not its first 
meeting with a porcupine, for several barbed points were found deeply 
embedded in its flesh. One would think that after a leopard, or any other 
animal, had had one experience with a porcupine it would remember it for 
ever after and steer clear of so dangerous a prey. 

In every land where porcupines are found hunters bring back stories of 
the barbed quill points being found in the skins of tigers and lions showing 
that fights are more numberous than is generally supposed. Any creature 
must be very hungry to tackle a porcupine, for even if it had the luck to kill 
it there is not very much to eat. The porcupines body is small in proportion 
to its bulk. On the other hand, it has been urged that the great creatures of 
the jungles may be something like boys who don't want anything to get the 
best of them, and consequently make war on the porcupine, even if it does 
hurt them and tear up their fur. 

Up in Canada there is a porcupine that can climb, and if it is hard 
pressed by any wild animal it runs up a tree for safety. 



THE CHAMELEON. 

The chameleon is a curious little creature which is found in many part> 
of the world and among them the Island of Cuba. Its bite is not dangerous 
although it can give quite a nip when careless chddren put ^h-r finga-s oo 
close In appearance it looks something like a lizard, except that its legs 
are longer and its head and eyes somewhat differently formed. It is any- 
where from half a foot to a foot long, and is wonderfully quick and active. 

A friend of the writer while travelling in Cuba caught a chameleon. 

He had heard all his life of its wonderful habit of changing its skin into differ. 

ent colors so that it matched anything it was placed near, and he was anxious 

to see for himself if it was true. When this gentleman first saw his chameleon 

it was about fifteen feet from the ground and was sunning itself on some 

green leaves and its color was then brilliant green. He knocked it down 

with a stick and before it could get away pushed it into his pocket. 

When he got 

home he placed 

it on an ordinary 

wooden table and 

in half an hour 

its color had so 

changed that it 

matched the table 

perfectly. Later 

on the chameleon 

was placed near 

articles of a blue 

and red nature 

with the result 

that its skin also _ , r 4. 

chano-ed its hue. Truly the chameleon is a mysterious marvel of nature. 

The chief business in life of the chameleon seems to be catching fliers, 
therefore in tropical countries it is a most useful little creature. 1 he 
specimen spoken of never seemed to tire of the sport and kept the area 
immediately surrounding its place quite clear of all winged pests. It is said 
however that the chameleon can live for months without food. It was the 
intended to bring this little curiosity to the United States but a cuban boy 
killed it one day before he saw that it was tied to the leg of the tab e and 
bearing other evidences of being a family pet. This is generally the fate 
of all pets when ignorant flock are around. 





THE CHALLENGE. 



CONCERNING BADCiERS. 
The Badger is one of the best known of animals and in the I'nited States it 
is found all thl; way from Southern Canada to the borders of Mexico. \ ou 
^vill remember that Wisconsin is called the " Badger " State. But the rest o 
the world is not without its badgers too, for members of the family are found 
in England, throughout most of Europe, Persia, Japan, and there is an 
under-Szed cousin in the Malay Archipelago. 

The badgers are marked ^\•ith black, white and gray in a striking manner. 
Their length ''is about thirty-six inches, including the tail. In the warmer 
climates they remain above ground throughout the year, but in the cold north 
they hibernate. Curiously enough they are flesh eaters, but not very 
successful hunters. They eat flesh when they find it. 

Now the badger is a peaceful sort of an animal, but when roused it is 
very fierce Years ago it was considered great sport to set terriers at a 
badger and only a powerful stocky breed of the dog could be used. When 
a man is teased or bulhed into doing something, people say he is "badgered. 

One morning, collecting all the dogs, a motley crew as to breed, with half 
-V dozen ^^■ell built terriers among them, we set out to unearth a badger. \\ e 
entered the woods and the dogs were soon on a hunt. We heard a great 
b-u-kin- going on and found the whole pack surrounding the roots of a huge 
nine tree The terriers soon got to work and in a few minutes out rushed 
a fox I It is not an uncommon thing to find badgers and foxes living together. 
Apparently they do not interfere with each others mode of life. 

Some of the larger dogs tore after the fox, but soon gave it up, for it got 
clean away from them. On the other hand the terriers saw their mistake in 
a few seconds, and they went at the burrow again with renewed vigor Bye and 
bye one terrier disappeared entirely into the burrow and we heard a great 
scufflino- going on inside, showing that a fight was in progress. The terrier 
soon appeared, but so terribh" mangled that we ^^•ere forced to shoot it. 

The bad^Ter now made a dash for liberty. Immediately all the dogs 
tackled it and we expected to see the creature done for in a moment or two, 
but not so The first terrier to attack in front was knocked out in prize fight 
f-.shion by a butt .)f the head. Another, which had hung on to the badger s 
fl-mks was driven ..ft". The larger dogs hung back, so the brunt of the batde 
fell on the terriers. They fought over fifty yards of ground, first one getting 
the advantage and then t'he other. But numbers were begming to tell and at 
last the badger went under literall\- smothered b\- its enemies. 

Wh.Mi the dogs were driven oft" we found that the badger was a l)ig fellow, 
and had made one of the fiercest fights that we ex er witnessed. 




1K( )\\LIN(. B\DGERS 



THE RABBIT. 

The RvBBiT k one of the best-knou-n animals h, the wnrkl. It is easily 
tamed and ha, therefore beconre a ,reat pet. There is hard y any boy .^o has 
not at some time or other, kept rabbits m a craeker-box luteh In il.s ^^M 

me the rabbit .s a bright, clever little ereature. They l.ve n, great eolo- 
n « ere the earth is honey-combed with In.ndreds of burrows, caled war- 
rens" and in the early morning or just at sunset it ,s a great sight to «ateh 
em runni Vabout. They ho,, in and out of the.r holes, while some sit up 
MtarinT il-ntly. Then, withiut an instants w.trnmg, the whole party will 
dash off and pull up again before - - - *■ 

they have gone any distance. They 
fight among themselves and chase 
each other madly through the twist- 
ings and turnings of the burrows. 

Rabbits have very sharp ears and 

for a short distance can run swiftly, 

and upon these two talents they arc 

mainly dependent for their saf(;ty. 

They have countless enemies, for 

men, dogs, cats, foxes, stoats, wea- 
sels, hedgehogs, crows, hawks, rats, 

snakes, and owls all murder the 

rabbit, one half by day, the other 

half by night; so there is not much 

peace for the poor bunny. On the 

other hand, the rabbit multiplies at 

a great rate if it is not kept down. 

For instance, the rabbit was intro- 
duced into Australia and allowed 

to run wild in the bush. As the , . , •, ,^^„ 

climate of Australia is very m.ld and enemies are few m number, it soon 
overran the land, and it has already cost the British Government millions to 

exterminatc^it^^ California the rabbit is a great nuisance, and the people have 
adopted a curious method for keeping down their number. Twice a year 
hundreds of men from Fresno County meet together for a rabbit-dnve. An 
ndosure, about one hundred yards square, is made, with an enti-an.e to . 
ten yards wide. From this entrance the fence-work then spreads ou wards in 
a huge V. At a certain signal, the men form a line at the wide end of the V 




THE RABBIT. 



and proceed, yelling and shouting, to drive all the rabbits down to the corral nt 
the bottom. Numbers of rabbits try to break through the line and are instantly 
killed. At last the frightened creatures are driven into the corral, where they 
are easily killed. Some idea of the size of these drives may be gained from the 
fact that between twenty and thirty thousand rabbits are killed in a single day. 

The favorite method of killing rabbits in England is by shooting them. 
In winter they are hunted with ferrets, which are turned into the warrens, 
while terriers watch the holes. Poachers catch rabbits by attaching loops of 
brass wire to the mouth of the burrow. Once a rabbit gets its head into a 
loose wire noose it does not know enough to draw back, but pushes on, strug- 
gling frantically, until it chokes itself. 

The tame rabbits are quite distinct from the wild rabbits. They have 
been so carefully bred that there are a number of fine species. Their ears, 
which stick up so straight when they are wild, soon begin to lop or hang 
down when they have been confined in hutches, free from the danger of prowl- 
ing foxes and cats. Rabbits do a great deal of damage to property. They 
gnaw the bark off trees, and at times completely girdle them. 

They steal all sorts of garden stuff, and destroy acres and acres of grain 
which happen to be near their warrens. But, after all is said and done, it 
would seem that the rabbit is more sinned against than sinning. Writers of 
all countries have loved to endow the rabbit with great shrewdness and 
sagacity. Uncle Remus in this country gives the rabbit a great reputation 
at the expense of that shrewd rascal, the fox. 

Mr. Mounteney Jephson, who crossed the Dark Continent with Stanley on 
his last expedition, found that the Uncle Remus rabbit-stories were known by 
the curious little race of pigmy people he met, who had never been visited by 
white men before. It is perfectly true that the rabbit is clever. One has only 
to watch it march from the woods some frosty morning. Out it comes with a 
hop, but never does its vigilance forsake it for an instant. You will notice 
that it will always keep its path open back to cover along the thin, hard snow, 
so there is no danger of its slipping or losing its way, and yet it keeps tar 
enough away to prevent a lurking fox from springing upon it. 

There is one animal the rabbit is in constant terror of, and that is the 
weasel. Directly a rabbit knows that a weasel is upon its track, it gives a little 
scream of terror and dashes off Now if the rabbit was to keep on running it 
would soon leave the weasel far behind, but this it does not do. It runs back 
and forth in a state of panic and dives into the burrows, from which the other 
bunnies drive it out. The weasel doggedly follows everywhere, until the rabbit 



THE GUINEA-PIG. 



becomes paralyzed with fear and allows its enemy to catch up. It is a 
curious fact that when a weasel has singled out a rabbit to chase, it will not 
touch the others, although it brushes quite close to them in the passages 
of the burrows. 

Many people have wondered of what use to the rabbit is the little white 
fur which has given rise to the name " cotton-tail." The most likely reason for 
its existence is that at the sign of danger the parents dash off, and the white 
is a guide for the little ones. Everyone who has shot rabbits knows that it 
serves as a mark to aim at. 



THE GUINEA-PIG. 

Why the Guinea-pig should have been so called is a puzzle, for it is not 
a pig at all, nor does it come from Guinea, but from South America. It is 
very brightly and irregularly col- 
ored, and very often has large dabs 
of orange, black, and white upon it. 

The guinea-pig breeds freely, 
but the young are very delicate for 
the first few days after they are born. 
This little animal is clean and doc- 
ile, but stupid, and its intelligence 
is far below that of the rabbit. On 
the whole, the guinea-pig may be 
said to be practically of no use to 
man, as its flesh is too coarse for 
food, and its skin, owing to the 
slight manner in which the hair 
is attached, is of no value to the 
furrier. 

The guinea-pig has always been 
a popular pet with children. It re- 
quires but little attention and will 
eat any kind of vegetable food. 

The guinea - pig sometimes 
shows a spark of courage, if a cat or dog should come too near its young 
ones, but as its teeth are not sharp, it is practically unable to defend itself 
irom enemies of any size. 




"^' '""^=r^^#^i^^^^F'^'^% 



GUINEA-PIG CA Natural Size). 



WHALE HUNTING IN THE SEYCHELLE ISLANDS 

The Seychelles are a group of islands lying off the east coast of Africa, 
between Madagascar and the mouth of the Red Sea. These islands are not 
often visited, for they lie close to the Equator, and are out of the great trade 
routes. Many years ago the Seychelles were very important, as they were 
the headquarters of the wh-ale ships. At certain seasons of the year the great 
sperm whale loves to swim in the warm season the outer edge of these islands, 
and consquently numbers of ships collect intent upon its capture. 

A few years ago an American whaler put into the Seychelles for wood 
and water. While there she had a series of exciting adventures which I am 
sure you would like to hear about. When the ship had anchored a chief 
came out from the shore in his canoe and had a long talk with the captain. 
The chief declared that the vessel lay in a dangerous position, as a hurricane 
was coming up; so the captain with the help of scores of canoes manned 
by sturdy natives, who practically towed the ship along, went farther up the 
harbor into a sheltered cove. 

In the afternoon a bank of dark clouds appeared on the horizon, and in 
a few hours, just as the chief had predicted a terrific hurricane was raging. 
The captain realized that if his ship had stayed where she had been, she 
would have been cast ashore and wrecked. Late the next day the hurricane 
blew itself out and the sun shone once more. 

The captain sent for the chief, thanked him for his timely warning, and 
asked what he could do in return. 

The chief promply replied, " Kill a whale for us, and we shall have food 
and oil for many moons." 

Next day the ship sailed out accompanied by hundreds of canoes. The 
sea was still rough after the hurricane, but not a canoe was upset. The 
captain knew that whales do not like hurricanes any more than men, and 
that they come in for shelter between the islands where the water is calmer. 

It was not long before the lookout at the mast head yelled "There she 
blows, whale on the starboard bow ! " 

Instantly all was excitement. The crew rapidly tumbled into their 
boats and in a few minutes they were clear of the davits. 

The whale-boat is a very buoyant craft. It is double-ended so that it can 
be uo^ed either forward or backward. The crew consists of four rowers, an 
officer who steers, and a harpooner who stands in the bow. The harpoon 
is a barbed headed instrument, and when it enters the whale's side it cannot 
be drawn out. To the harpoon is attached several thousand feet of strong line. 
This line is coiled in barrels and is placed in the bottom of the boat. The 




IN THE CROW'S NEST, ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WHALES. 



WHALE HUNTING IN THE SEYCHELLE ISLANDS 

rowers sit with their feet wide apart and allow the line to run between their 
legs. The only other furniture in the boat is an ax to cut the line in case of 
accident, and lances to throw at the whale when the boats get alongside. 

As the boats shot away the canoes followed, keeping some distance off 
for fear of frightening the whale, who was swimming on the surface, uncon- 
scious that enemies were swiftly drawing near. The mate's boat reached 
the whale first, and the instant the crew stopped rowing the harpooner 
plunged his weapon into the creature's side, yelling, "Backwater," while 
the natives in the canoes screamed with delight. In a second the whale 
dived, its tail making a mighty splash as it vanished. The line ran out of 
the barrels and over the bow so fast that the friction almost set fire to the 
wood-work. 

The rope in one barrel is tied to the end of that in the next barrel, so 
that when one coil runs out the other begins. Already two barrels were 
empty and only about two hundred feet was left in the third one. The line 
slackened and the whale came to the surface. Immediately all hands began 
to haul in and careful recoil the line. The whale soon started off again. 
This time many of the canoes had gotten in the way and when the line was 
pulled up taut on the surface three canoes were upset. The boats rushed 
past and left the natives to be picked up by their companions. Again the 
line slackened and was pulled in, and then the whale made an unexpected 
move: suddenly appeared on the surface and rushed at the boat with open 
jaws. The mate swung the stern around, using so much force that his 
steering oar nearly snapped, but he was not quick enough. The snout of 
the monster hit the boat amidship knocking it into splinters, and throwing 
the crew about in every direction. A wail went up from the natives in the 
canoes, who thought that their precious prize had escaped. This was not the 
case, however ; the line had become entangled in one of the barrels and was 
thus kept afloat. In less than a minute a second boat, manned by the boat- 
swain, rowed up and secured its end and attacked the whale. 

The huge creature, finding that it had not yet shaken off it enemies, 
changed its tactics and took to swimming round and round in a circle nearly 
a mile wide, towing the boat behind it as if it were a cork. The canoes all 
huddled in the centre fearing every instant that the whale would rush into 
the midst of them, well knowing that if it did many of them would be killed. 
After a while the whale changed its course again and made out to sea. Its 
speed must have been nearly twenty miles an hour, for the crew had to sit 
well back, and a long wake of foam swept behind. 



WHALE HUNTING IN THn Si:YCHELLE ISLANDS 

Meantime the canoes oaddled wildly after. Suddenly the whale paused 
and dived; a second later the boatswain swung his boat around and jelled, 
.. Look out " for he saw that the whale had dived under thcuL 

The canoes scattered like a flock of sea gulls, and not a momen too 
soon for the whale came to the surface right in the spot where they had been 

^°"The;::rutetaTbeco„iing exhausted, but made one n.r^ c«ort to 
Hestrnv its enemies Flintjing up its tail defiantly it charged the boat 1 he 
harpoon awaUd it calmi; a'nd'the boat moved back in the kn.ck of tnne^ 
As^he whale passed the second harpoon was plunged into its side, makmg 
U fast w the'two lines. The whale came to the sur ace --".ng over an 
over in a last effort to get away, w inding the 1 nes --"'i ''^ ^ J.'^^^ ;° 1 
nnured from its side, but it still lashed its tail angrily. Now was the crews 
Tpp r umt^ Rowing up alongside the giant a number of '-ces were hrus 
into its vitals The whale struggled to get away but c.mid not and m a 
': m , ;Le crew yelled " He's done for." The canoes took up the cry and 
a race began between them to see xvho could reach the prize first^ 

The ?rew cut a hole in one of the whale's flukes, through which a line w^as 
passed a 1 made fast to the canoes. The whale was now some twelve m 1 s 
froTth shore, but the sturdy islanders soon had the prize moving rapidly 



'° Th d : h of the whale was the signal for the onslaught of thousa 
of sharks who had been watching the capture. Numbers of canoes paddl d 
ltd fighting the voracious brutes ofl-, but a shark would sometimes make 
a hold dash and tear off a piece of blubber. 

As tie whale neared the shore all the women and children came running 
down to the water, singing a song of triumph. The body w.s rough 
convenient point near the the village and the operation of cutting it ap was 
promply begun. The o,l from the head was carefully extracted and preserved, 
whil sreat fires were lighted upon which pieces of flesh were cooked. 
T oug 0^ tt night a fe^st was held accompanied by dancing and singing. 
Earlv the next morning the ship went off to hunt for more whales. 

This story shows that the sperm whale in the southern seas is a dang r- 
ous animal to tackle, capable of playing its enemies many a "''y t™'^;-^" ^ 
as doubling, on its tracks like a hare, or diving to such a grea depth that the 
lines gWe out On the other hand, the crews show wonderful skill and cool- 
n"s i'the face of the greatest danger for it may well be said that those who 
hunt the whale take their lives in their hands. 



A SWORDFISH HUNT 

The swordfish does not seem to lead a continuous life of activity like 
its neighbor the porpoise. Nevertheless, when it does start out in search of 
prey, it makes up for lost time by its marvelous swiftness and agility. 

The tunny is a fish measuring from two to four feet in length, and is 
chiefly found in the Mediterranean. At certain seasons of the year the tun- 
nies moved in great shoals from place to place, and then it is that their arch- 
enemy, the swordfish is most active. It pursues them relentlessly, killing 
right and left. Quite often it rushes in among the tunnies, and slaps about 
with its tail, maiming many of them and killing others with its sword. 

The weapon which the swordfish carries is about four feet in length, 
thick at the base and tapering to a point. There are many instances where a 
swordfish has struck at, or collided with a boat, driving its sword through the 
timber like a knife. The Natural History Museum of London has a piece 
of an oak keel, six inches thick, of a vessel through which a swordfish had 
driven its sword and left it broken off in the wood. The shock of the concus- 
sion was so great that the crew believed that they had crashed into a 
submerged wreck. 

A (ew years ago a number of fishermen near New York noticed a great 
commotion going on in their fishing-nets. They hastily rowed to the spot 
and found that some great fish was securely caught. They did not dare try 
to haul it up but sent back to the shore for a harpoon. With this weapon 
they succeeded in getting a line fastened to the intruder. As it came to the 
surface they saw that it was a twelve-foot swordfish, half mad with fright, 
tearing about in a vain attempt to get away. In its struggles it had wound the 
line round and round itself until it was securely tied. At last the fishermen 
managed to cut its throat and haul it to the shore. Of course the swordfish 
was a prize and numbers of people were glad to pay a small sum to see such 
a curiosity, but the damage done to the nets was f^ar more than the value of 
the fish In this case the swordfish had probably followed the shoals of shad, 
and in its eager pursuit of them got tangled in the nets. 

Off the coast of New England the royal sport of capturing the swordfish 
is carried on in a unique manner. The swordfish has a habit of sleeping on 
the top of the water, and as it has a great back fin sticking straight up it is 
not difficult to find. 

Around the bowsprit of the ship a small but strong stage is erected for the 
men to stand on. The weapon used is a trident with a barbed point, or a 
harpoon, to which is attached many hundred yards of thick strong line, which 
in its turn is fastened to a keg which will float. The line is tied in " stops ' 




A SWORDFISH ATTACKING TUNNIES. 



A SWORDFISH HI/NT. 

back and forth along the side of the boat. By " stops " is meant that the hne 
is laid out so that it will not snarl when running out, and it is kept in position 
by pieces of twine which will break easily enough when pulled. 

The best days for fishing for the svvordfish are those on which the sea is 
almost calm, and the sky overhead blue and sunny. One man, the harpooner, 
is stationed on the bow. The boat sails slowly along looking for fish. It is 
necessary to keep absolute silence on board. Bye and bye the lookout sights 
a dark fin sticking up out of the water, The boat is put about and sails to- 
ward its sleeping victim, trying to keep it on the harpooner's right hand 
side. If the ship is lucky she will slip right up alongside without alarming 
the fish, and the harpooner plunges in his weapon. With a mighty splash 
tne fish dives and the line begins to tear out of the stops at lightning speed. 
Soon the end of the line is reached and down goes the keg. After a while 
the fish ceases swimming and the keg comes to the surface, possibly a mile 
or more away, and the ship sails toward it. The keg is hauled on deck and 
all hands draw in the line. 

Then the fun begins, for a swordfish has any amount of vitality and 
brute strength, and objects to being dragged up. To finally get it alongside 
requires a block and tackle and plenty of men. The sword and tail are cut 
off for trophies, the trident or harpoon released, the line is untangled and tied 
in " stops " once more, and the ship goes off to look for another prize. 

In some very rare cases the swordfish has been known to turn on a row- 
boat and wreck it, killing some of the occupants. In any case it would be 
dangerous to be near a desperately wounded fish weighing half a ton, 
especially when it is armed with a formidable sword. 

Along the coasts of Sicily and Italy the swordfish is plentiful, and it is 
regularly hunted by the fishermen in much the same manner as described. 
In Algeria the swordfish is harpooned and the line dragged to the shore and 
the fish hauled up on the beach ; but this entails a lot of needless work. 

The color of the swordfish is a beautiful dark steel blue, changing to 
almost a lemon color under the belly. Its skin is tough and smooth, and the 
eye is large and brilliantly colored, red or orange. Its whole build suggests 
a fish capable of swimming at tremendous speed, which is often does, as any 
one can testify who has seen it at home in the ocean. 

Sometimes a Sword fish is caught far inland on the great rivers 
The fish belongs to the sea but it sometimes takes a fresh water trip out of 
curiosity and if it happens to be the season when the salmon are going up 
stream it will follow them as long as the water is deep enough. 







SHARKS ATTACKING A DIVER. 



AN ADVENTURE WITH A SHARK 

Some years ago a ship was lost off the coast of Jamaica in the West 
Indies. At the time she had a large sum of money on board which was on 
its way to Europe. The ship had foundered in a hurricane, but, as luck 
would have it, not in very deep water. 

The bankers, to whom the money belonged, were anxious to recover it, 
and for this purpose employed a skilled diver. He went down to Jamaica 
and after making an examination of the spot put on his diving clothes and 
descended. He found that the safe which contained the money had broken 
away from its fastenings and was therefore easy to raise. Ropes were 
fastened around it and it was safely hauled into the boat. The diver then 
went down a second time to see if there was anything else of value lying 
about that could be recovered. 

While he was moving along the bottom he saw a great shadow flit past. 
On looking in the direction he beheld two large sharks watching him. One of 
them, the larger, seemed more anxious to get at him than the other. He 
tried the old trick of divers of letting some air escape, causing a great rush of 
bubbles. This is usually enough to cause any shark to scuttle offin no time. 
The shark in this case did swim away but it returned in an instant. Luckily 
the diver was armed with a heavy marhnspike. He gripped it tightly and 
stood his ground waiting for the attack. He knew that it was no use to 
signal to be hauled up, for the instant he would move he knew that the 
shark would rush at him. 

Still the shark seemed to be in no hurry. It swam round and round in 
big circles, but the diver noticed that the brute was getting closer and closer 
all the time. Meanwhile those in the boat above were becoming alarmed 
at the time the diver was staying below water, but the rule was never to 
haul their man up until he gave the signal, that is v/hen the air bubbles 
continue to come naturally to the surface. 

The shark made a feint but turned tail at the critical moment, but the 
next time it was bolder. Turning on its side it swept upon the diver. The 
man feared not so much for his head which was covered with a copper case, 
as he did for his air jnpes. If once the shark became entangled in those, it 
would be all up with him. Gripping his marlinspike firmly, he plunged it 
in the shark's stomach. The fish gave a great lurch to one side. At the 
same instant the diver pulled the signal cord and a minute later was safe 
in the boat above water. This diver was a man who had had many 
experiences under the sea in all parts of the world, but he admitted that never 
before had he had such a lively ten minutes. 



CAPTURING THE SUNFISH 
The tropical seas have no more wonderful denizen than the sunfish. 
This fish in build is nearly round and has two enormous fins with which it 
propels itself through the water. Looked at from the side it is about the size 
of a good sized cart wheel but viewed from in front it appears quite thin in pro- 
portion to its great size. It has a curious habit of sleeping on top of the water 
Its bulk and strength protect it against the onslaughts of ravenous sharks but 
the sea gulls find it a convenient mid-ocean resting place. I eople declare 
that the sunfish is 
very seldom seen 
but in reality this is 
not so. When a sun- 
fish is lying asleep 
with a number of 
gulls resting upon 
its back it might 
easily be mistaken 
for a piece of floating 
wreckage. 

The sunfish is 
most frequently seen 
in the warm waters 
of the Pacific and 
often at great distan- 
ces from shore. It 
will sometimes swim 

along the surface • -r > v 

with one huge fin sticking out making an odd appearance, and again it it is 
swimming slowly, and the water is very smooth a gull will be found calmly 
sailing along taking an ocean ride on its back. 

Considerable danger attends the capture of this monster. On one 
occasion while a trading schooner was becalmed some miles off the coast of 
Lower California, a boat put off to try and catch some fish for the mess table. 
Presently the mate, who was in charge of the party, saw a sunfish about a 
mile away and apparently asleep. He suggested that they capture it and the 
others soon agreed. They rowed back to the ship and got a harpoon and some 
light fines and set out at a rapid rate. About three hundred yards from their 
prev the rowers slowed up and approached with care. The sun- 
fish x\as not on the lookout for danger and allowed the boat to slip up within 




CAPTURING THE SUNFISH 

ten yards. The mate hurled his harpoon straight and true, for he had seen many 
years of service in the whahng ships. With a mighty splash the great fish 
dived and the line with a big cork float attached was thrown overboard alto- 
gether. The fish was gone minutes, and the crew were begining to think 
that they had lost their prey when the mate saw the float more than a mile 
away. The men bent to their oars and in a few minutes the boat was flying 
towards the mark. But ere they could reach the place the sunfish dived 
again and carried the float beneath the surface. The great fish must have 
passed right under them for the float reappeared about quarter of a mile behind 
and right in their wake. This time they had more luck and succeeded in 
passing a second line around the float, but in doing so they must have 
jerked the Hne for the fish dived with a rush and the boat had to abandon its 
second line. It was not long before the float appeared again and the end 
of the line was picked up. This time the mate decided to hold on whatever 
happened. He made fast to the bow and waited to see what would come next. 
Nothing occured for a minute or more, and two of the crew began to haul 
in on the line thinking that perhaps their victim was dead, but they were 
wrong, for suddenly there was a tremendous jerk and the men let go, while the 
line ran out like lighting. The mate's face changed color, but he was a man 
of iron nerve and he was going to make his fight with the fish to the death. 
The line ran taunt with such a jerk that the bow of the boat almost went under. 
Every instant that the line held the boat was liable to be swamped, but the 
fish was evidently weakening for its struggles became less and less and 
presently ceased altogether. Then came a long strong pull of half a dozen 
arms and the prize slowly rose to the surface. 

A line was made fast to the fin and the huge fish was towed to the ship. 
This proved to be no light task for it seemed as though the carcass was 
made of lead. Once alongside it took the ship's heaviest block and tackle 
and most of the crew to raise it to the deck. Part of the meat was cut off 
cooked for the miday meal and proved to be pretty coarse and oily and was 
promply voted " no good" by the crew. However they had had lots of fun 
with the catch and were contented. Life is often dreary on a deep sea trip 
and any excitement like a hunt is always hailed with delight. 

Sometimes sportsmen shoot the sun fish from row boats, but it is a very 
uncertain business. In the first place a row boat is seldom still and in 
consequence makes a poor gun platform. Again a very heavy rifle must be 
used, and unless the fish is struck behind the eye or in some vital spot it 
dives and is never seen again. 



GRAMPUSSES AND NARWHALES 

A whale ship that was spending the summer in the Arctic regions had 
several opportunities of watching the narwhales and grampusses. The nar- 
whal is chiefly famous for the wonderful twisted ivory horn which springs 
out of its forehead. It is not an aggressive animal, as a rule, for it is seldom 
known to attack other creatures that live in the sea. 

On the other hand, the grampus is a great hungry beast, measuring 
thirty or forty feet in length ; the whole year round it races up and down the 
cold seas searching for something to eat. 

The whale boats always try to harpoon a few narwhales. It is a very 
exciting chase for the narwhal frequently upsets the boat; but the ivory 
horns are so valuable that men will run great risks to secure them. 

One morning there being no whales in siglU and the wind having fallen 
into a dead calm, a boat put out from one of these whale ships to see what it 
could find. The sailors jjegan to fish with lines and for an hour or more had 
good luck when suddenly the fish ceased biting and disappeared. 

A few minutes later the bow man whispered, "narwhales." Sure enough, 
not quarter of a mile away there was a sm:.ll school of them. The men 
seized their oars and rowed quietly so as to come up alongside of the herd ; 
but the animals saw the boat coming and dived. After a wait of some minutes 
the narwhales rose to the surface, and this time allowed the boat to come close 
to them. The mate stood in the bow, harpoon in hand, and when he was 
near enough threw it with all his might at the leader. The herd scattered at 
once, leaving one of their number struggling to rid itself of the cruel barb in 
its back. The men began lo haul in on the line, but at a yell from the mate 
they ceased. They found themselves surrounded by the narwhales and for 
an instant feared that the boat was about to be attacked. The narwhales 
were swimming round and round as if in mortal terror of something. 

A few seconds later there was a tremendous splash, and out of the 
water bounded a pair of grampusses. The first one had already seized a 
narwhale, which was struggling in its mouth, while the second one made a 
savage rush at the remainder of the herd. Instantly they scattered, and one 
of the largest narwhales collided with the boat, its horn ripping the whole 
side out of it throwing the men head over heels into the water. When they 
came to the surface they found that the narwhales had fled and the gram- 
pusses were pursuing them. The harpooned narwhale had also vanished 
having been torn to pieces by the hungry marauders. 

The sailors clung to the floating oars and wreckage until another boat 
came from the ship and picked them up. 




FLYING FISH LEAVING THE WATER 



SHOOTING FLYING FISH 

Flying fishes appear to be always having a hard time of it. The big 
fish persue them under water, while the sea gulls and fish hawks wait above 
ready to pounce upon them Avhen they take to the air. 

The flying fishes have two enormous fins, very delicately fashioned 
which they use to fly with. They can only stay in the air as long as the fins 
or " wings " as some people call them, remain wet. On the Pacific coast it is 
considered good sport to shoot these fish. It takes considerable skill to do 
it too, for they break water very suddenly, and fly with good speed about 
fifty yards ; then drop back into the waves. Their color is silvery, but the fish 
is very deceptive when seen against the green waves. Of course if the fish is 
shot it drops on the surface in much the same way as a bird. 

Out west the real hunter of the flying fish is the tuna, a fierce and mighty 
mackerel which weighs anywhere from one hundred to three hundred 
pounds, and is one of the swiftest swimming fishes known. The tuna seems to 
chase the flying fishes all day, especially when the weather is fine and sunny. 
The writers have seen a tuna single out one fish and dash at it. The poor 
fish, driven frantic with terror, makes for the surface and comes out with a 
splash. Away it goes through the a'r, perhaps for a hundred yards, until it 
is forced to drop, and then as it strikes the water there is a loud " klop " 
which shows that the tuna has never lost sight of its prey but has followed it 
skimming along just below the surface. 

It is not uncommon for flying fishes to land on the deck of a boat when 
they are hard pressed by some foe, and, it is said that they can be attracted 
aboard at night by a light hung a few feet in the air above the deck. The 
waiters have often seen flying fish strike the side of a yacht, and drop back 
into the water, either killed or stunned. 

If you want to see an exhibition of skill you should watch a fish hawk 
or sea eagle tackle a flying fish. On one occasion a tuna drove a flying fish 
to the surface and immediately a hovering bald eagle swooped upon it. The 
flying fish swerved and then dived. The eagle came on with a splendid rush 
and so did the persuing tuna and the two met. The eagle screamed angrily 
as the tuna hurled itself clean out of water. There was a mighty splash as 
the eagle struck at the tuna and for a second or two it was carried right 
under water, showing that its talons must have caught in the flesh of the great 
fish. There was a terrific struggle for a few seconds and then the eagle by a 
great effort rose, and sailed away to its nest with its plumage badly ruffled, 
and also its temper, if one could judge by its screaming. That time the 
flying fish escaped in the confusion. 






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ROUNDING UP A SCHOOL OF FISH 



ALL ABOUT THE GRAMPUS 

There is nothing pretty about a grampus which, by the way, is a warm- 
blooded, breathing animal, and not a fish. It is always in a hurry, rushing 
about looking for fish to gobble up. Nothing suits a grampus better than 
to run across a great school of cod. It rushes in among the fish slaying 
and eating them until it is gorged. Sometimes the fish, in trying to get 
away from their enemy, swim into shallow water; but even there they do not 
escape, for the grampus will rush after them, and often when this happens 
gets stranded on the beach. It is then almost helpless, and seldom lives until 
the tide comes to float it off. 

The Arctic foxes never allow such a grand feast as a stranded grampus 
to escape them, and worry and tear at the giant with their sharp teeth until 
it is dead. The grampus lashes about with its tail and some of the foxes 
get killed ; but the majority are very nimble, and skip out of the way of the 
flail-like blows. When the huge body quivers in death it is a signal for a 
general onslaught. Rats, sea-gulls, foxes, auks, all flock to the feast, gorg- 
ing themselves, snarling, screaming and fighting the while. 

Sometimes a grampus will tackle narwhales, murdering them right and 
left. A narwhal is as large as a big shark, but the grampus itself is often 
over thirty feet long. The narwhales being swift swimmers, endeavor to 
run away, but their only real safety is in scattering. 

The grampus does not come much below the Arctic circle, for the cold 
seas are simply alive with fish and there it makes its huntmg ground. Its 
enormous body requires vast quantites of food, consequently it does little 
else but endeavor to satisfy its hunger. 

A trick of the grampus is to swim along at a great rate with its mouth 
wide open. In this way a large number of fish of all sizes, from sardines to 
cod, find their way into its stomach. Even the swift swimming porpoise 
falls a victim to the grampus. There is no doubt that when a grampus is 
really in a hurry it can move along about as quickly as an express train. 

The only amusement a grampus seems to indulge in is to tease the 
Greenland whale. Five or six will join in the fun. They will surround the 
whale, spring out of the water and dealing it terrific blows with their tails. 
They do not often kill a whale, but simply worry and hustle it from place 
to place. The whale does not fight back, but swims off as fast as it can. 

Sometimes the grampusses will follow a whale hundreds of miles until 
it is all but worn out. The color of the grampus is blue-black, while its 
belly is a shining white. Its head is small in proportion to its body. 




SEA LIONS FIGHTING. 



HUNTING SEA LIONS 

Out on the Pacific coast of the United States is the best place to observe 
the Sea Lion. There are still a few to be found on the rocks off the Cliff 
House near San Franciso, and on the northern end of the island of Catalina, 
but the hunter must go farther to the South to see great herds in a wild state. 

There is a lonely island called St Nicholas off Southern Califorina and it 
is truly one of the "jumping off" places of the United States. This island 
is about nine miles long. It is almost without water or vegetation, in fact, 
nothing but sun and sand and rocks and sea ; a more wild desolate spot can 
hardly be imagined. Here it is that bird and animal life is to be found in 
abundance, for the hand of man has not touched the spot. Gulls, sea eagles 
and ducks fly about in great flocks, but they are not as interesting as the 
mighty herds of sea lions. 

Two hunters went out to the island in a sloop ; a sail of some hundred 
or more miles, and arrived during the night and anchored off shore. The 
sea lions could be heard splashing and roaring on every side. As soon as 
the sun had dispelled the morning fog the island came into view. The rocks 
on the shore were literally covered with sea lions of every age and size. 
When they saw the boat they became very excited and moved about uneasily. 
The two hunters rowed ashore and landed, no easy job for the surf runs high 
on this exposed beach. They landed some distance from the rookery, and 
walked slowly along the beach. Immediately all the females took to the 
water, carrying their young with them. The old bulls stood their ground 
however and bellowed angry warnings. The two men approached quite 
close to the bio^orest fellow and watched it with interest for several minutes, 
until it made a very sudden attack. It took four large Winchester bullets to 
lay it out. The shots caused the rest of the herd to scatter. This bull was 
an enormously fat fellow, its teeth being exceptionally large and white. Its 
fur was uneven and not at all pretty. 

After looking around for some time one of the hunters saw something 
move near a rock. On going up to it he found it to be a tiny sea lion. He 
picked it up in his arms, and carried it back to the boat. The little thing did 
not struggle at all but gazed about in a bewildered fashion. The two men laid 
the baby down on the deck, stroked its fur and gave it a saucer of milk which 
it drank greedily. It seemed a good deal like a very misshaped, but cunning 
pussy cat. Suddenly there was a big splash in the water, and the men saw 
that the mother had followed the young one to the boat. It swam round and 
round crying miserably, and at times raised itself up in the water, in an 
endeavour to see its youngster on the deck. At last the poor mother's 



HUNTING SEA LION 

distress became so great that the men held the baby over the side and gently 
dropped it into the water. Immediately the mother swam up and took the 
baby away with all speed. The old bulls may be brave enough, but Us 
doubtful if one of thent would risk its hide to get a httle one back. 1 h,s 
inrident is a beautiful case of a mother s love. 

SeVLtons are very quarrelsome and have great battles among thentselves. 




The greatest fights oecur in the spring when the bulls are f^^'^Sj^^ 
families together. Each bull has a number of females under ,ts charge 
Zv quite often another bull thinks its brother has too ntany --les and ,t 
laL one away. This generally occurs when the master of the herd s off 
fisllg but when it returns it promptly goes after the thief, and a great battle 
tel«s place. One or the other gets killed, unless either of them shows the 
white feather and scuttles away to a place of safety. 



BEARS! 

The mighty Grizzly Bear is truly the King of American Animals. It is 
also called the "Silver Tip" and among sportsmen "Old Ephraim." The polar 
bear is somewhat larger than the grizzly, but the two are equal in strength 
and ferocity. The grizzly frequendy reaches a length of eight feet and some- 
times a thousand pounds in weight. Its claws are curved, very strong and 
often six inches in length. The poor ill-fed creature in the Zoo is but a very 
bedraggled caricature of the wild animal. 

One day some hunters found the tracks of a large grizzly and proceeded 
to capture it in a way which is somewhat questionable from a sportsman's 
standpoint. All bears are fond of honey and the grizzly especially so. So 
these hunters got a large block of honeycomb and thoroughly soaked it with 
whisky. The bear soon smelt the dainty and came up and eat it. It was 
not long before the whisky began to take effect, and the bear appeared a little 
unsteady on its feet. Then it grew drowsy and lay down to sleep off the 
effects of the alchohol. It was an easy job to kill it, for its poor brain was 
too much befuddled to allow it to grasp the situation and protect itself, and 
then it found that its legs refused to carry it away. 

One day a party of hunters came upon a large bear sound asleep. The 
dogs rushed at it at once and soon had it wide awake. The bear ran away 
at once, and its speed soon left the hunters far behind, but the dogs were 
harder to get rid of One big hound got closer than was safe with the result 
that the bear grabbed it up with its paws and in spite of its bites and struggles 
gave it one death hug. The dogs held the bear in check long enough to 
allow the hunters to come up. A bullet paralyzed its hind quarters, but it 
took several more shots to kill it. It is doubtful if dogs alone would conquer 
even a small bear ; against a grizzly they would have no show. 

The times when the bears are fiercest is in the spring when the long 
winter's sleep is over and they come forth very sleepy, ill-tempered and 
hungry. Their fur looks rough and poor and dirty but a couple of weeks of 
heavy feeding soon has them back in condition. The second dangerous time 
with the bears is when the old ones have cubs. They will fight then with 
unusual vigor and courage. 

Two hunters came upon a whole bear family and a battle ensued. The dogs 
tackled the cubs and the old mother made havoc among the dogs killing and 
maiming several. At last the old bear was shot, and several of the cubs 
were accounted for too. When matters had quieted down the hunters heard an 
uproar going on about a hundred yards away. They ran to see the cause and 
found that a large cub had stolen away unnoticed and had been followed by a 



BKARS ! 



powerful 1.1,11 terrier. The terrier had gone into the fight, hght o heart, but now 
itTppeared only anxious to get away, for it found "N aster Brum no easy 
,!™ to tackle The men kept hands off and watched the pa.r. Theterr.er 
rushed its wooly prey into a corner but missed its grip. In an mstantthe cub 
g^^^ the dog in ils'paws and held on to it. The pair rolled over and over un d 
The cub shSok itself loose and left the dog w.th a broken back. 1 h, eub 
was eventually captured and lived for some time m great peace, till it came o 
Tend throug'h eating some poisoned meat. Its owners were not sorry to 
see it go, fo? it was growing at such a rate that it w^as begming to be a 
problem what to do v4h it. Some time before one of the men, being of 
human" instincts, took the bear into the forest and let it loose. Away it wen 
t re and they'all thought they were free of it, but one snowy morning it 
was found sitting patiently by the cook-house door waiting for its breakfast^ 
You see there was not much to eat in the woods at that time. The bear 
lived at its old home for many months, never showing any signs of becoming 
savage or unruly and no doubt it would be alive today but for the accident 
with the posioned meat already mentioned. 

A party of hunters had been told that an enormous bear was to be found 
in a Tanyon some miles away. It was late in the afternoon but "evertheles 
hey started off and camped for the night, an hour after sundown. About one 
o clock in the morning the men were aroused by one of *- J^nion , 
whose face was gray with fright. They listened and soon found ou what 
was the matter. Going round and round their tent they """ ^^^ ^ f "^ 
measured tread They all gripped their rifles and waited. After a whi e the 
sound ceased and they got to sleep again. It was discovered the next day 
that the "measured tread " that had so starded them came from a at tha 
a moving through the leaves in a series of jumps and of course they al 
dt rather foolish. In the dark and stillness they had imagined this to be 
fhe mrghty enemy. Quite often small noises sound all out of proportion in 

''' "rtl :::;tn^t:^::^:X ^ea. but whi. its tracks were plam 
enough they^ never^'caught sight of the creature Hself^ Cair^ w.s pitched 
again, and this time among some rocks. 1 rouble began at once, 
the rMdesnakes grew very friendly and insisted upon '-Parting the camp a 
all hours and then the flies invaded the cooking tent. The cook *as a china 
man, usually the most placid of souls, but on this ""^^'T'" ITLvenngs 
lively. The men were busy cleaning guns and getting he " «>> °«; "^g 
out, when suddenly the chinaman gave an unearthly yell. The men rushed 



BEARS ! 

The fact that this bear was found carrying, not dragging, a large deer, 
indicates its enormous strength. The skinning took some time, and parts of 
the meat were cut off and roasted and found to be ^ood eating. The bear is 
capable of considerable speed and even when badly wounded it has been 
seen to move over the ground at a great pace. It does not gallop but 
appears to shuffle along in clumsy fashion. 

On the way back to the ranch one of the hunters killed a fine buck but 
they had no means of carrying the body with them. The young hunter did 
not know what to do, for he knew that the coyotes would find the prize in no 
time The guide said he would "fix it." He took the skin of the grizzly 
and laid it over the deer and then they went on. Later in the day the guide 
and the hunter returned with a packhorse and found the body untouched. 
There is a smell about the grizzly that other creatures greatly dread, and the 
skin of a grizzly, spread in this fashion, over any game is a sure protection. 
The shapelessness of it scares the other creatures too, for all the forest-folk 
fear anythin«^ that they cannot understand. Bears are not always savage as 
the following incident shows. One day a lady in Califorina while out walking 
on a lonely path met a Cinnamon Bear. The two looked at each other for 
a moment then they both turned tail and walked in opposite directions with as 
much haste as dignity would permit. This incident is somewhat remarkable 
as cinnamon bears have rather a bad reputation along the Pacific slope for 
showing ugly temper. . . 

While'' some railroad section hands were camped m a pine forest in 

Oregon a funny bear incident happened. One of the camp children, a tiny tot 

in short dresses, went down to play by a mountain brook that ran close to the 

railroad Suddenly the child looked up and saw a bear cub drinking in the 

stream only a few yards away. Both babies caught sight of each other at 

the same moment and both began to yell. The mother rushed down and 

caught up her child and carried it off. Almost at the same moment a huge 

bea? shuffled out of the woods, came up to the cub and carried it away 

to safety too. You see both mothers were anxious about their young ones. 

Bears are excellent climbers and often attack the wild bee's nests even 

when they are built high up in the hollows of trees. The bees buzz around 

angrily and sting the robber. But either its skin, or its fur, is so thick that 

the bees make no impression ; at any rate the bears do not seem to care an 

atom The bear has a fair sized brain and soon becomes tame and even 

affectionate. Members of the family are found in almost every part of the 

world, from the Arctic to the Equator. 



SHETLAND PONIES 



Far away to the north of Scotland there is a group of rocky, storm- 
ridden islands called the Shetlands. Very few people live on them and these 
devote most of their time to fishing, and getting sea bird's eggs. However 
on these islands live a breed of shaggy little ponies which have become 
famous the world over. They are not large nor much to look at when wild, 
but are wonderfully sturdy and as they came from a place noted for its rough 
climate they can stand a great deal of cold and exposure. 

How the 
ponies got into 
the Shetlands in 
the first place is 
not known, but 
it is supposed 
that their ances- 
tors were taken 
there by man, 
and that as the 
long years rolled 
by they grew 
smaller and 
smaller and de- 
veloped shaggy 
coats as a protec- 
tion against the 

weather. But all this is by no means an established fact. It is possible that 
the ponies are a distinct breed that have sprung from a stock which may 
have inhabited the islands many thousands of years. 

There is nothing to prevent them multiplying very quickly, for they have 
no enemies worth speaking of. At any rate most of the ponies in the United 
States, the pretty ones that you see children driving about the country, are 
born of fathers and mothers that came from the Shetland Islands. 

Of course there are lots of tame ponies in the Shetlands, but never the 
less many of the islands are so rugged that the little creatures are for all the 
world like wild animals. 

Winter is the best time to catch the ponies for then the snow is deep 
and food is scarce and they cannot get away as easily. The natives round 
up the ponies and then drive them into corrals. Then they are shipped to 
England to be tamed and made to go in harness. 





THE COSSACK SOLDILR ON HORSEBACK 



HORSES ALL OVER THE WORLD 

The horse is easily in the front rank of animals useful to man. What 
the nations would have done without its services in peace and in war is hard 
to say. Although man has had the horse trained to work for him for many 
hundred years, there are still spots on the earth where the horse roams free. 
In Arizona, New Mexico, and the northern part of Mexico proper, wild 
horses are frequently seen and sometimes caught. 

On the Pampas in South America the wild horses, or mustangs, as they 
are called, are still hunted. A number of cow-boys, or " vacqueros " usually 
band together and go out in search of a herd. These herds are always 
under the leadership of a stallion that has fought its way with teeth and hoofs 
into the front position, and holds it as long as its strength permits. The 
vacqueros use their finest horses in the chase, for they have to carry the rider 
and a heavy saddle and yet keep up with the spirited mustangs that carry no 
weight at all. 

The method of catching the mustang is by tangling its feet in a " bolas." 
South of the Equator the bolas takes the place of the lasso. It is a long 
piece of rawhide having at either end a stone. The cowboy keeps swinging 
the bolas slowly round and round his head until he is close enough to throw, 
then he hurls it with all his might. The instant the rawhide is checked in 
its flight, say by a mustang's legs, the stones swing round and round and 
the victim is tangled up in the coils of the bolas. As a rule, the cowboys try 
to dash in among the herd, flinging their bolas in every direcdon, and it is 
not unusual for two mustangs to become tangled in the same rope. This is 
always unfortunate ; for should either beast have a pair of legs free, in its 
terror it often kicks its companion to death. Mustang catching is a sport 
attended with great danger, for the horse in its wild state is no mean foe. It 
knows how to use its teeth and hoofs. 

There seems to be no doubt that horses were first brought to the 
Americas by the Spaniards. Some of them escaped and roamed wild over 
the prairies and became the forefathers of the mighty herds which are found 
on both continents. The Indians were said to have been very much fright- 
ened when they first saw horses. They were unlike any animal they had 
ever seen before, and when they beheld men astride them they thought that 
they must be four legged devils. 

Five thousand years before Christ, the Egyptians and Chaldeans had 
used the horse in warfare, and the old kings of Israel, Syria and Persia 
reckoned the strength of their armies by their chariots and horsemen. The 
Greeks were superb horsemen. Horses were always used in great Roman 




ij^^B^r-KT'- : Jtrl^ .Ifc <t 



HORSES ALL OVER THE WORLD 

bull-fights, and chariot racing was popular until the fall of the Empire. It is 
carried on in a modified fashion to-day. 

England has raised famous horses for various uses, but they probably 
all came from the original Arab stock. Throughout Russia and Asia the 
most popular beasts are the little, untidy, shaggy horses of Tartary. The 
Cossacks have trained them to a wonderful extent, but above all they stand 
the terrible cold of Siberia. They are not much to look at but are remark- 
ably strong and enduring. 

In the United States we have seen cavalrymen train their horses to do 
wonderful things, such as to sit on their haunches and to lie down flat so as 
to form a breastwork behind which their riders shoot. In all the western 
Indian wars the horse has played a great part. Soldiers stand in their 
saddles, ride backward, sideways and, in fact, in every possible way, with or 
without saddles. The West Pointers become the most expert horsemen in 
the world and they equal western horseman at their own tactics. 

Circus horses have to be specially trained and well treated, for they 
have to understand quickly and obey the slighest word spoken to them. A 
mistep on the part of a circus horse would instantly cause the death of a 
rider if he were doing some very difficult feat such as turning a double 
sommersault on its back. Again the horse must be taught to stand the 
glare of the lamps and the noise of the bands and shouting people. It is not 
an uncommon thing to hear of a troupe of educated horses doing such 
tricks as holding bouquets of flowers, smoking pipes, ringing bells and 
shooting off pistols. 

Buffalo Bill's show has traveled all over the world showing how the 
American Indians and cowboys ride wild horses. When the show was in 
England a gentleman exhibited a pony upon which a saddle had never been 
put. Two grooms had lost their lives in attempting to break the little beast. 
The owner jokingly dared a cowboy to try his hand at taming the pony. 
The cowboy was not dismayed ; he quietly took his saddle, bridle, lasso and 
spurs, and went to work. In less than half an hour he had saddled the 
untamable one and ridden it around the field. 

Every boy has seen the wonderful fire-engine horses, now common in 
every American city. How they stand unhitched, and the instant the alarm 
rings spring into their places and in a second or two are harnessed up and 
off to the fire with a two ton engine ratding behind them. 

The race horse seems to be a distinct creature, long legged, lean and 
lanky, but with muscles of iron. This horse has been slowly envolved and 



"WT^m^^^^^sSiSWM 




WOLVES 

The name of "Wolf" inspires genuine terror, and not without reason 
for it stands for all that is swift, merciless and cruel. In every wolf-infested 
country throughout the world the people tell of a long list of deaths and 
disasters charged to these creatures. 

One night a Russian officer, stationed in a lonely fort, right in the mids't 
of the pine woods, received orders to come, without a moments delay, to 
headquarters, a journey of about fifteen miles. A pair of the best horses 
were immediately harnessed to a sleigh, and the officer and his driver were off. 
It was a bitterly cold, but not a dark, night and the horses were able to pick 
their way without any difficulty. The sleigh moved like lightning across the 
frozen snow and the miles were soon being reeled off. 

Suddenly the horses threw their ears back and snorted, and the next 
instant broke into a furious gallop. The officer sat bolt upright in a 
moment. He listened attentively for a minute without hearing anything, and 
had almost persuaded himself that it was all right, when a faint howl reached 
his ears. Brave man as he was, his face blanched for he knew full well that 
he had to race for his life. But he was a man of action and in a few minutes 
he had his two rifles loose and ready for work. The howl sounded again, 
and this time much closer. There was no need to urge the horses, for blind 
terror was at their heels. 

The stolid driver too had heard the dreaded sound but he sat fast and 
kept a taut rein and silently hoped against hope. The officer looked over 
the back of the sleigh and he saw eight or ten wolves come running out into 
the moonlight. They seemed to be travelling easily but he knew well 
enough that that shambling loose gallop of the wolf will in time run down 
any creature upon earth. 

The first wolf was now not more than forty yards away and, as the 
sleigh was moving so smoothly, he chanced a shot. The leader toppled over 
and its half starved companions soon fell upon it, and tore it to pieces. Thus 
five minutes was gained and it seemed as though escape was possible, for the 
fort was only a few miles away. Soon the howl sounded again and before 
many minutes the whole pack appeared. One big wolf was out in front of the 
others and the officer shot it, but this time only a few wolves stopped to 
quarrel over the body while the majority of the pack kept on, and matters 
were becoming desperate. 

The sentry on duty at the fort had heard the shots, and the howling of 
the pack, and he knew in an instant what was wrong. He hastily sounded 
the alarm and called out the guard and the fort gates were opened. The 



WOLVES 



sleigh left the woods and came out into the open. If the horses struck a 
soft spot in the snow and floundered an instant it would be fatal and none 
knew that better than the driver. However this Russian sat fast, with his 
nerves in his arms and prayed to all the powers he could think of. The 
lights of the fort were looming brighter every moment, but the pack was 
close behind. The wolves knew that if their prey gained the courtyard 
they would be safe, so yelling with rage, they increased their speed. The 
driver now did a splendid action ; instead of making straight to the gate, he 
kept some yards to one side. One wolf got ahead of the sleigh and bit at 
the horses flanks but missed. It rolled under the sleigh and the jolt nearly 
upset it. Two others flew at the bear skin rug at the back and tore it away. 
Just as the courtyard gates were reached the driver turned at a sharp angle. 
This movement brought the pack broadside with the fort and they were met 
with a shower of lead from fifty soldiers. The sleigh swerved again and 
this time safely between the courtyard gates. The speed of the horses was 
so great that they crashed into a veranda on the far side, smashing it, and 
the heavy sleigh, to kindling wood. The gates were quickly shut and the 
pack took to its heels, baulked of their prey and leaving a dozen of their 
fellows dead or kicking in the snow. Alas all travellers do not have as much 
luck as the Russian officer. On one occasion a party in a sleigh were run 
so hard that the horses actually gave out and the people were torn to pieces. 
Then again another story is told of a Russian nobleman who was travelling 
with his children and an old servant, and were pursued by a pack of wolves. 
The servant knew that the pace could not last long, so he deliberately jumped 
out of the slegh and walked towards the wolves. He was soon torn to 
pieces but the time gained served to save his master's and his children's lives. 
This was a case of true heroism. 

A Russian courier on horseback, while carrying his despatches, was one 
day overtaken by a pack of wolves. He shot several of the leaders, but he 
knew that as the pack were so close his chances of escape were very slim. 
His horse was a fine creature, and fit to try speed against such an enemy. 
The killings had served to give the courier a good start but while pass- 
ing through a wood his horse suddenly stumbled and threw him, and then 
galloped away. Hastily scrambling to his feet, the courier climbed into 
the nearest tree. He had a close call for his life as the wolves nearly had 
him by the heels. The wet snow on his uniform caused him great discomfort, 
and while he was safe from one set of enemies he had a deadlier one to deal 
with — cold. He felt that he was slowly freezing to death, for already the 




A RUSSIAN COURIKR I'KRSLKD BY PACK OF WOLVES 



WOLVES 



drowsy sleep from which no man awakens, was beginning to creep over him, 
while below sat the ring of wolves waiting for the body to fall. 

An hour later a riderless horse, foaming at the mouth, galloped into the 
outpost. The story it told was clear enough, and in a short while a large, 
strongly-armed party went forth on the trail and fought it out with the pack. 
At length the wolves were driven away and the unfortunate courier was 
brought down from the tree and hastily carried to the fort, where the warmth 
of a fire soon revived him. 

The list of men however that go to their death while performing their 
duty in the lonely land of Russia is a large one. The world never hears of 
their deeds, and in the official lists they are simply recorded as " missing." 

Wolves can be checked in their run for a short while by throwing a 
a rolled-up rug in their path. They stop at once, and tare the rug to pieces 
until they discover that there is nothing to eat in it. 

The winter months are the dangerous times with the wolves, because 
their boldness increases with their hunger. Before now small outlying, 
unprotected villages have actually been raided by a hungry pack and the 
results were truly dreadful. In summer time, when food is plentiful wolves 
are not nearly as fierce. One day a hunter shot a stag and while he went 
for help to bring in the body he tied a red and blue handkerchief to the horns. 
This fluttering in the wind, was quite sufficient to keep the wolves away, for 
they are very suspicious creatures and will not go near anything that they 
do not understand, or suspect is a trap. In winter time however they 
cannot be scared off" so easily. 

Bounties are offered by the goverments for wolve's heads, and slowly the 
packs are , disappearing. Pit-falls, snap-traps, guns and poison are making 
serious havoc in their ranks. Before now a small pack has been entirely 
wiped out through eating the dead body of a horse that had been thoroughly 
saturated with poison. 

The wolf isn't worth much commerically. Its fur is beautiful in winter 
time, but the risk of getting it is too great. In our western states it is 
thought good fun to hunt the wolf from horseback with a pack of hounds. 
Again, wolves are sometimes stuck with a spear, in much the same way as 
" pig-sticking," is carried on in India. The wolf is found all over the world, 
but from Europe it has almost vanished ; the price on its head proving too 
much for it. 

Wolves in captivity are sometimes crossed with big dogs and the 
puppies are terribly strong and savage. 




QUARRLLING OVER THE FEAST 



THE ORYX 

The Oryx is one of the largest antelopes that is found throughout 
South Africa. The Zulus kill the animal in large numbers for food, and 
from its skin they make a tough natural leather. 

A hunter who was passing through Zululand asked many questions of 
the natives regarding the oryx. He found that on the whole it was a peace- 
ful, harmless creature, except that it had an appetite which caused its man 
neighbors much trouble; for at certain seasons vast herds would collect and 
move across the country looking for food. The result was that many miles 
of good grazing land would be stripped bare of grass and small bushes, so 
that the Zulus' cattle gradually died of starvation. 

Until the white men came in great numbers the oryx were very plentiful, 
but the rifle has thinned its ranks to an appalling extent. The Zulus' method 
of hunting the oryx is by surrounding it and driving a spear into the animal's 
body before it can escape. The horns of the oryx are long and very sharp, 
and it knows how to use them, so there is an element of danger in the chase, 
and the Zulu hunter has to be very nimble. It is told by a man who once 
wounded an oryx, though not badly enough to stop its running, that he 
followed it for several hours before he could catch up. He found that the 
poor creature had been worried by a pack of jackals, and that it had killed 
three of them. This is a curious fact, as the jackal is such a coward that it 
seldom attacks any animal larger than itself. 

Antelopes are noted for their great fleetness of foot, but the oryx is 
comparatively slow. If a gazelle is startled it will rush off at a speed which 
few horses can follow, but it does not keep up the pace very long. The 
oryx, however, does not seem to be able to make a dash for safety ; but it 
moves off at a swift trot which it will maintain for hours over very rough 
ground. In fact, one of its tricks, when in danger, is to make for any rocky 
or broken country in sight. This trait is also found in the American moose. 

The female oryx displays great boldness in protecting its young. 
When attacked it will run away, but if overtaken it will use its body to 
ward off the spears of its enemies, so that its young will not be injured. 

The oryx is frequently seen in zoological gardens in the United States, 
where it thrives very well. Usually antelopes are very delicate and seldom 
Hve any length of time when removed from their sunny homes. If a 
zoological park is built upon clay the antelopes and other tropical animals 
never live long. There seems to be a dampness or chill which proves fatal 
to them. The famous Hamburg park in Germany is built on sandy soil and 
numbers of tropical animals live there comfortably. 



FISHING FOR THE "SILVER KING" 
From a sportsman's point of view, the finest salt water fish is the Silver 
King— the giant Tarpon of Florida. The Pacific coast claims a big fellow, 
called the Tuna, which runs the tarpon very close in the matter of strength, 
size and " never-say-die " sort of pluck. 

While wc were in camp on the coast of Florida we had a chance to show 
our skill with rod and reel. Among our party was a Spanish boy who knew 
more about tarpon than anyone we had met. One cloudless still morning 
a member of our party went out with the Spanish boy to see him tackle 
the great fish. After waiting an hour or more, he got a strike. The 




boy was using a heavy hand line and it proved to be no light task to bring 
the fish in. The fish thought nothing of towing the skiff" along at a lively 
clip. At other times it wouW come so close that it could be seen skimming 
along the side of the boat just a few feet below the surface. This fish was 
evidently not going to give in without a desperate struggle, for tarpon are not 
built that w^ay. After a long and stubborn fight, however, the fish was 
finally conquered, killed and dragged safely aboard the skiff". It weighed 
considerably over one hundred pounds. 

The next day we had a chance to show what we could do. We had 
provided ourselves with the very best tackle that money could buy, and we were 
much relieved to hear the Spanish guide pronounce it "good," after he had 
examined every inch of it. It all looked so terribly new and shiny that we had 
had grave doubts. The course of our hunt was practically the same as on 
the previous day. This time we had to wait much longer and bait the 
hook many times, for there was not a fish to be seen. Patience had its 



FISHING FOR THE " SILVER KING 

reward at last, for during a lull in the conversation we had a strike, and a 
good one. Had it come on a taut line there is no doubt but that the man 
behind the reel w^ould have gone overboard. The Spaniard was on the alert 
in an instant and flew to his oars like a demon. Never had we seen any- 
one display such skill. He kept the boat's nose in the right position, so that 
whenever the line tightened he was always ready for the next move. On the 
first strike the line flew out with great speed, and the reel screamed in agony. 
The boat was sent rapidly forward to take the strain off the line. It seemed 
as though the tackle, strong as it was, would never stand the strain, but we 
soon saw that it had been made by skilful hands and was calculated to a 
nicety. Then the great fish stopped swimming and in a few minutes showed 
us that it was going to try to double back right under us. The line was quickly 
reeled in, but was only allowed to rest a very few minutes when the fish was 
off again ; the line this time cutting through the water in a beautiful curve. 
Then it was that we beheld a sight, for the tarpon came to the surface and 
sprang six feet out of water, the sunlight flashing from its silvery scales, 
making it appear a perfect picture of strength and blind courage. The Spaniard 
smiled approvingly and said, "Senor, you have a big one ; see that you do not 
lose him." The process of tiring out a tarpon is no joke, for it seems to have 
nine lives like a cat. This fish resorted to every possible trick, it dived, 
leaped, doubled on its tracks, went fast and then slow, through deep and 
shallow water. It was a new experience to meet such cunning prey. As 
time passed on we almost lost hope, for the tarpon seemed to be running with 




FISHING FOR THE "SILVER KING " 

as much strength as ^^■hen it was first hooked. All its efforts, nowever, to break 
the line had failed. After a while it seemed to give in and we slowly pulled 
to the shore, which was quite close, landing on the sandy beach, tiere the 
fish took a new lease of life and without any warning away it N\cnt. keeping 
the line as taut as possible we had to run, but as the fish was m shallow 
water the effect of the tight line was to draw it still further out of its depth. 
The Spaniard ran on ahead and during a pause in the race gaffed the fish. 
For a moment he went out of sight in a cloud of spray ; then he appeared with 
his prize well in hand. We hauled it up on the beach where it flai)ped and 




stru^-gled and fought like a dcn^.n. It pro^■ed to be a fine fish and ^^elghed 
one hundred and sixty-five pounds. Habct ! Since that day we have caught 
other tarpon, some of them even larger, but after all none have equalled ior 
excitement the first catch. 

The tuna of California is caught in much the same manner as the tarpon, 
and it weighs from one hundred to three hundred pounds. It is just as great a 
fighter as^ts cousin of Florida; knows all its tricks and a few ot its own 
besides Flying fish m-ake the best tuna bait. Sometimes a small band ol 
tuna hunt together and soon succeed in sending the other swimming folk wild 
with terror. When a big tuna take a bait on the surface it does so with a 
rush and a splash like a big shark. 



A PIKE AND MOORHEN 

The name of " fresh water shark" has not been given to the Pike with- 
out good reason. Of large lake fish it is one of the fiercest and most dreaded 
and if food runs short it kills every living thing in the water. Its length is 
anywhere from eighteen inches to four feet. Its mouth is large and is armed 
with long sharp teeth. Any fisherman who has hooked one will tell you 
that it is one of the trickiest and stubbonist fighters that can be taken with a 
rod. In most lakes attempts are made to kill out the pike, that is when it is 
desired, to preserve the other fish. If this isn't done the pike will make a 
clean sweep of the lake. 

In the long grass on the side of a small lake a moorhen had built a nest, 
and reared a fine brood of young ones. All went well until the chicks took 
to the water, and then, one by one, they began to disappear. The family 
would be paddling about when one victim would give a squeak, and 
disappear beneath the water. This went on for many days until not a single 
chick was left alive. 

The man who owned the lake wanted the moorhen to raise her brood, 
and he was at a loss to know where the little chicks were going to, until one 
day he saw the silent cause of death. 

The old moorhen was swimming close to shore when suddenly the 
man saw a huge pike heading for her from behind. Before he could do 
anything the fish had seized the bird by a leg. There was a tremendous 
struggle, between the pair, but it was not long before the moorhen was 
pulled under the water and drowned. 

The pike had to be gotten rid of, but it was no easy matter. The man 
fished for it several days, at various hours, and using all kinds of bait, but 
the it wouldn't bite. 

Then he tried another scheme. He had his boat rowed slowly along, 
back and forth and trailed in the water, just behind, a silver spinner, such as 
bass fishermen use. After waiting some time the pike noticed the flashing 
object and swam up to examine it. As luck would have it, it came right to 
the surface of the water. The man saw his chance and gave it two barrels 
of buck shot. The next instant the pike, mortally wounded, was thrashing 
about in the throes of death. A third barrel killed it and the lake had peace 
once more for its arch-enemy was gone. It may be unsportsmanlike to fill 
a fish up with buck shot, but there are times when a pest has to be cleared 
out in the swiftest and .surest way. If you want to raise many kinds of fish in 
any preserved water, you will have to keep out the pike, or give up the job 
for it is ten times worse than the water rats or snakes. 




KING VULTURES FEASTING. 



THE KING VULTURES 

The King Vultures are found mostly in tropical South America. The 
name "king" has not been given to them without reason. It is a fact that 
if a number of vultures find the carcass of a horse or other large animal, they 
will not touch it if a king vulture is near. His majesty descends leisurely to 
the earth and examines the carcass, then eats as much as he desires and 
flies off to a high tree to sleep. The instant the king departs, all the other 
vultures, who have been patiently waiting, swoop down upon the remains, 
and finish them up in no time. 

The king vulture is a most gorgeously colored bird. Its back is a soft 
gray, while its tail and outer wing feathers are black. Its throat is lemon 
colored, and its beak and head are a brilliant red and its eye is bright and 
flashing. Like all vultures, it is lazy, vicious, and cowardly; outside of its 
own family it is not worthy of the name of "king." It is fond of circling 
for hours together in the sky so high up that it looks a mere speck. 

A gentlemen who was staying with a Brazilian coffee planter was very 
anxious to obtain a specimen of a king vulture. One day while walking 
near a swamp he came upon a flock feeding. The instant he showed himself 
the birds became uneasy and flew off to the trees for safety's sake, all except 
one splendid fellow that went on with its meal, quite undisturbed by the 
prescence of such a trifling thing as a man. The gentleman was no coward, 
but he did not know much about the strength of a vulture or he would have 
thouo-ht twice before acting as he did, for it was his rash intention to capture 
a specimen alive. 

He made a rush at the bird and grasped it by the neck. The vulture 
was badly frightened, and struggled frantically to disgorge its meal and then 
to fly away. Its companions left the trees and circled round the struggling 
pair, some coming so close as to almost touch them. The gentleman had a 
strong cord in his hand and after a while he succeeded in getting it around 
the birds's body, which prevented it from using its wings, and as its feet also 
became entangled, it was soon a complete prisoner, The man then carried his 
prize home, but he had paid a terrible price for it. His legs and body had 
been torn by the sharp beak of the bird, and his shoulder had been ripped 
open. The planter had no idea that his guest was going to undertake such 
a risky task, and told him it was a wonder that he had not been killed out- 
right. A blow from the bird's beak on his head have caused his death. 

The best way to have secured the vulture would have been to allow 
the bird to gorge itself, and then capture it with a lasso. In this way it 
would not have had a chance to use its claws and beak. 




A FLfULUUb IIOLSL 10 L1\L IM 



A PERILOUS ADVENTURE WITH TIGERS 

On one occasion a hunter and three native followers had been shooting all 
day in the tall jungle grass, when without any warning, the white man wa? 
overcome with the heat and collapsed. The nearest safe and sheltered place 
was a grass house raised from the ground, which had been built and was used 
by the tiger-hunt beaters. 

It was too near sunset for the natives to attempt to carry the sick man 
home for they feared prowling animals. They managed however to get the 
man into the grass house and then one native went off with all speed for help. 

Close to the house was a spring, to which one native hurriedly went, to 
get cool water to bathe the master's head. Suddenly his companion who had 
remained behind heard a shout and the next instant the native scrambled into 
the grass house like a monkey. It appears that while he was kneeling by the 
spring he saw a pair of tigers approaching to drink. He was entirely 
unarmed so he simply fled like the wind. He did not climb out of danger an 
instant too soon, for the largest tiger had followed him and sprung at him, 
coming so close that its claws tore his white linen breeches. 

The tigers were now angry and seemed to be determined to get at the 
natives for they sniffed around on every side, and even stood on' their hind 
legs trying to reach the platform. 

Meanwhile the third native had found some regimental officers who 
made all haste to go to their sick companion's rescue. As they approached 
the spot they soon saw fresh tiger foot marks, and a minute or two later, to 
their astonishment, they beheld the natives poking off the tigers with long 
sticks. The great creatures were so occupied with their work that they did 
not notice the coming rear attack. Two shots rang out. One was good and 
one was bad. The smaller tiger bounded away and was not seen again, but 
the larger one toppled over with a sound between a roar and a cough, the 
result of a shot through the lungs. The two natives were mighty glad for 
the timely help, as they were beginning to fear that the tigers would reach 
them after all. In a few minutes the sick man was placed on a stretcher, while 
the natives shouldered the tiger and the whole party started back on the run. 

When the man who had been overcome recovered, and was told of the 
adventure he concluded that he had had a very close shave for his life. A 
tiger cannot climb, as a matter of fact, but it isn't a comfortable thing to have 
a couple of the great brutes trying to get at you when you are only a few feet 
out of reach. The natives could only put up a very poor defence as there 
was but only one gun in the party, and, as a precaution, the native messenger 
had taken that one with him. 




A Llil\i ■^l 11^111 KM V\ V\l) II1^ ( ()KAlUK\.Mi5 



THE CORMORANT AS A FISHERMAN 

The white man has always been famous for training animals and birds 
to his own uses. He has taught the horse to run, the dog to hunt, the ox 
and ass to plow. He has decorated his house with singing birds, cats and 
other pets ; but it has remained for the Chinaman to turn a certain rather 
despised bird to a useful as well as ornamental purpose. The cormorant is 
one of the best examples ot Chinese training. This particular bird's habitat 
is by no means confined to China ; it is found in many other parts of the 
world such as the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, and many 
of the '^eas of Europe. 

The cormorant is noted for its enormous appetite and greediness, for it 
will devour fisn until it almost chokes and lies helpless upon the water. It 
is an expert swimmer and diver, and can travel quite a distance under water. 
As a rule the cormorant first selects a spot where the fishing is good. It 
circles round several times and then alights upon the water. It never seems 
to be in a hurry, for it frequently floats quietly, rising and falling with the 
waves. Usually the splash made by so large a bird frightens the fish off and 
they must be given time to recover. Suddenly, while you are wondering 
what the cormorant will do next, it vanishes from sight. Folding its wings 
closely to its body it dives, using its feet to swim with. The head and neck 
act as a rudder, but in front instead of at the back. If the bird ducks its head 
it sinks to a greater depth, while if it arches its neck it will come to the 
surface. Sometimes the cormorant stays under water several minutes and 
may have travelled several hundred yards before it comes to the surface 
again, its crop bulging with the fish it has caught. 

Now, the Chinese catch the bird while it is young and train it, not to 
fish for itself, but to bring the prey back to the boat. No cord or anything 
is attached to the bird ; it travels free. With good treatment and careful 
handling it becomes very tame. On the great rivers of China it is a common 
sight to see fleets of boats with their crews of cormorants at work. The 
birds perch on the bows and oars, or wherever they can find a footing; or 
else swim alongside looking for a chance to catch fish. Frequently nets are 
not used at all, the fishermen relying entirely upon the skill of the birds to 
bring in the fish. 

A Scotchman once succeeded in training an otter to go into the surf and 
catch fish in much the same way. The otter always obeyed, but shov.'ed 
that it did not like the task, and was always ready to be hauled back into the 
boat, where it would promptly go .o sleep. The cormorant on the other 
hand seems to enjoy its work. 




THE HISTORY OF A CHICKEN THIEF 

The Goshawk is rather a magnificent looking bird which, so far as 
England is concerned, has become very rare. The trouble with the goshawk 
is that too much game is preserved and too many chickens raised to 
allow such a notorious bird thief to roam at large unmolested ; con- 
sequently it leads a troubled life, for it is shot and trapped wherever- 
it can be found. 

But persecution has made the goshawk wonderfully shrewd and 
clever. It would seem an easy task to kill all the hawks in a neighborhood, 
but an old goshawk will defy its enemies for years. If the goshawk only 
killed birds in the woods and fields its days would be long in the land, but it 
seems unable to resist stealing chickens as well. Chickens are fat aud stupid 
and cannot defend themselves, and the goshawk finds them much less trouble 
to catch than a lively partridge that can travel a mile a minute down wind, 
or a wild duck that will take to the reeds and water, and gives it no end of 
trouble. 

Without doubt the goshawk has nine lives, like the cat, as can be proved 
by telling you this story. 

On a large farm near Cantref, in Wales, there was a special 
'^:0^ breed of chickens which was the pride and joy of the farmer's heart. 
Now these same chickens took to vanishing mysteriously. At first 
it was supposed that they wandered off and died with the cold. 
Once in a while the farm folks would hear a great clucking and quacking of 
terror, but on going out nothing would be seen but the chickens running for 
shelter in every direction. One day the farmer, while standing in his yard, 
saw a shadow, swift as lightning, glide over the wall, pause a second, .and 
then vanish with a squeaking duckling. In an instant he knew that he had 
a dreaded enemy to deal with, a full grown goshawk. The next day he hid 
himself and laid in wait with his gun; but he only succeeded in killing two 
of his own chickens while the goshawk got off with another, which made 
four in two days. The gun was of little use, for it was like shooting at an 
express train. For a week the goshawk disappeared, and the farmer was 
beginning to think that he had frightened his enemy away; but tne very 
next afternoon the thief returned and carried off a kitten, by way of a change 
and right from under its mother's nose too. Another time the bird 
flew so close to a shepherd-dog that it tore a piece of fur out of 
its back in passing. Poison was tried, and bird lime and steel traps, 
but all of no avail. Meanwhile the live stock was steadily growing less. 
Then for a time the hawk went away and the farm-yard had peace. 







THE HISTORY OF A CHICKEN IHIEF 

The breeding season came on and no doubt there was a young family 
to be fed for the goshawk was seen hovering in the sky, and two days later 
it dashed into the yard in the usual way ; but this time its claws seized a 
splendid rooster which was far too heavy for it to lift. The rooster 
did not intend to give up its life so easily and attacked its enemy 
^ fiercely, using its beak and spurs with good effect. The farmer, 
hearing the noise of the fight, ran out and got so close that he actually 
touched the hawk's wings, when, realizing its danger, it let go of its prey and 

vanished out of sight. . , , 

You must remember that a goshawk makes up its mind and acts twenty 
times as quickly as a boy does. When the rooster had recovered from its 
fright it put its rufiled feathers in order and strutted up and down the yard, 
crowing victoriously. 

Now the end of this bold thief was fast approaching. 
Whether it had been rendered desperate by the clawing it got, 
or was smarting under its defeat, nobody knows; but about noon the next 
day it circled into the farm-yard like a sky-rocket, evidently looking for the 
rooster A dog happened to be in the way at the time and sprang at it. 
The hawk changed its course. At that instant one of the farm hands came 
in at the yard gate. The bird swung round to avoid a collision, but must 
have lost its head, for it dashed against the barn wall and tumbled 
^f^^down with a broken neck. That was the end of one of the greatest 
^^-f thieves ever known in that neighborhood. 

^ The goshawk has a cousin, a beautiful bird, much smaller in 

build but very like it in appearance,-the Marsh Harrier. This bird stays near 
the edges of lakes and kills the grebes, mud-hens, curlews, snipe and other 
water fowl. When food becomes scarce it will even deign to catch frogs, and 
when the frogs give out it turns its attention to the farmyard and performs 
feats worthy its great cousin. 

Sometimes a marsh-harrier tackles a heron, a bird several times larger 
than itself, and no mean fighter. The heron has a long neck which 
it keeps curved back, so it can thrust it forward at will. Its beak 
is a very dangerous weapon, pointed, and shaped like a dagger. 
The marsh harrier often wages war on the heron, hovering above it 
until it gets a chance to dash down upon its back. To defend itself the 
heron points its beak upwards to receive the attack. 

On one occasion the victory lay with the heron, for it succeeded in 
driving its beak through the thick muscles of the marsh harrier's wing. The 





THE TIIIEB-— A MARSH HARRIER. 



THE HISTORY OF A CHICKEN THIEF 




great hawk screamed with rage and pain, and fluttered down, down, down, 
until it fell into the lake, and the heron went on its way as though nothing 
had happened. 

A gentleman, who had watched the fight from shore, put out 
in a boat, and after considerable trouble succeeded in securing the 
wounded bird. He carried the marsh harrier home and tended its 
injured wing. It lived for a long time in a big cage, becoming 
very tame, and as its wing healed, its captor thought that it would become 
lively again ; but instead, it moped, while its feathers lost their glossiness, 
and the gentleman knew that unless it was set free it would die. Not having 
any chickens to lose, and being humane, he made up his mind to let his 
prisoner go. One sunny morning he opened the door of the cage. At first 
the hawk did not understand, but when it realized that it could regain its 
^^ Hberty it dashed out like a streak of hghtning, dropping one of its 
^^^^ wing feathers as it went. For a moment it circled round, screaming 
^,mi^) ^^,iji^ JQy^ and then sailed majestically away. The gentleman never 
saw the bird again, but he kept the wing feather as a momento. The 
local farmers shook their heads when they heard what he had done ; for in 
their opinion a man who had once gained possession of a marsh harrier and 
had not wrung its neck must have been a lunatic. It would have been a 
a great pity to have killed so beautiful a bird. 

The game keepers in Europe have a novel method of ridding themselves 
of hawks. They wait for the breeding season and then locate the nest and 
observe the old birds hanging around it. They do not disturb them right 
away but wait until the eggs are laid and hatched out into a noisy 
brood. Then on a moonlight night when the nest is clearly outlined (^^ 
against the sky, they put two barrels of bird shot through the nest, u; 
Tliis is a sure way to kill the young ones and often the mother, too. 
The male usually roosts some distance off, so it escapes but it will leave that 
part of the country if its family are killed. 

When a rare hawk has been persecuted to any great extent it goes off" 
into the wilds, such as the Welsh mountains where it will be safe. The 
country is all moorland and scrub trees and it can see its enemies miles off. 
For food it lives on the grouse, partridges and mountain larks. In the 
spring and fall the hawk has a busy time lying in wait for the flocks 
of migratory geese and ducks. Anyone who has ever watched a 
hawkin these mountains can testify to its slyness, for it soon rivals 
the bittern and raven at keeping out of sight. 




THE SOKO 

The great African explorer, Dr. Livingstone, was the first to call atten- 
tion to the soko. He named it "gorilla," believing it to be the same as the 
ape found on the west coast in the Gaboon country. As a matter of fact the 
soko is a distinct animal altogether, and it is only found in the region of the 
great African lakes. It is not so fierce, nor so large, nor so hideous as the 
gorilla ; nor does it live a solitary life like the gorilla, but goes about from 
place to place in small bands. These bands do not seem to have a leader. 

During his travels Dr. Livingstone frequently heard of the soko under 
various names, but more often as "pongo," which is a term the African 
natives apply to all great apes with bad manners and evil reputations. It 
was not until he got into the country beyond Lake Tanganyika that he actually 
saw the beast and found that the natives believed many foolish things about 
it, one of which was that the spirits of their dead warriors rose up again in 
the shape of these great apes and gave them their fierceness and fightin- 
powers. Another belief was that the soko acted as a charm for rain. When 
Dr. Livingstone came to the far side of the Lake he found that no rain had 
fallen for weeks and that the country was drying up. The medicine man 
was consulted, and he said that a soko must be caught alive. One native 
went out to hunt and returned with a soko, but he had lost his fingers in the 
fight. This illustrates a curious fact, and that is, the soko always attacks the 
hands and feet. It has been known to bite the paws oft" a leopard and then 
climb into a tree and watch it die. 

Taken as a whole, when the great strength of the soko is considered, it 
is a harmless beast. It has large, dog-like teeth, but it seldom uses them. 
It could easily crush a man in its arms. It is an ungainly beast to look at, 
It walks upright most of the time, and the natives call it " devil." 

The soko stalks men and woman while at work and will even kidnap 
children. Once a child has been taken and carried off" to the top of a tree, the 
best way to get it down is to offer a large bunch of bananas to the a soko, 
which it will never refuse. Dr. Livingstone saw a soko creep up beliind a 
native who was hoeing and seize him. The man shrieked for help, but the 
soko did not harm him, only shook him, grinning, and chattering the while 
and enjoying its victim's terror. The soko will meet the native women and 
dance around them, waving its arms, but does not often harm them. 

A soko hunt is quite exciting. The natives surround a patch of grass 
and set it on fire. When the sokos appear they are attacked with spears, 
but woe betide the unlucky hunter who misses his thrust, for the soko^ will 
turn on him, seize his spear break it and badly maul the owner. It is seldom 



THE SOKO 

that more than one or two sokos are killed in this way, for they are wonder- 
fully agile and swift of foot, and vanish in no time. 

A hunter who was traveling near the Victoria Nyanza came upon a 
colony of sokos. He watched them for some hours. At first he was puzzled 
to know what they were, for they looked at that distance like gigantic 
baboons. The sokos were making a curious drumming noise, and at certain 
intervals they would howl in chorus. After a while they discovered that they 
were being watched, and it seemed at first as if they would run off. They 




roared and barked in chorus, waving their arms as if ordering the hunter 
away. Seeing that no harm was intended, they came closer, their curiosity 
getting the better of their caution. The bright buttons on his clothes seemed 
to cause them great delight. Suddenly he found that one soko had crept up 
behind him and was fingering his gun-case and chattering loudly. All the 
other sokos set up loud cries, and the man, believing he was about to be at- 
tacked, fired at the largest soko. The poor beast fell dead while the others 
scampered off, leaving the hunter alone. 




DOGS OF ALL CLASSES 

Dogs can roughly be divided into four classes. There are the hunting 
dogs ; the toy or pet dogs ; the working dogs and the big dogs which are 
neither workers nor hunters, and last but not least the noble army of 
nondescript mongrels. 

Now it is impossible to say which is 
the greatest of dogs, for the simple reason 
that one breed is thought more of in one 
country, while the people of the next 
nation prefer another kind of canine- 
Each has its uses and is great in its own place 

Let us first look over some of the hunting dogs. Every 
one who has done much shooting knows what a treasure 
a good dog is. The pointers and setters go entirely by nose, a proof of ^\■hich 
is that when puppies they chase shadows of birds and never look overheard 
for the cause. Again, when first taken into the field to pomt game birds, 
they are likely to walk right over the crouching coveys. The spaniels and 
retreivers are the best water dogs, but they are not as much in vogue in the 
United States as in England. Otter hounds are another class of water dogs 
and you will find an account of them in the_ otter stories. We have also 
spoken of fox hounds in the stories upon hunting. 

Two enormous hunting dogs are the wolf hounds and stag hounds. The 

infested Russia, on ac- 

endurance and strength^ 

dog to hunt a wolf 

two classes. The 

shaggy fellows, 

land, which closely 

Russian cousins. 

mostly used in 

look something like the 

heavily built. 

great favorite. This dog 



former are much prized in wolf- 
count of their great speed, 
for it takes a powerful 
The stag hounds are of 
least known are the great 
sometimes found in Scot- 
resemble in buid their 
The staghounds however that are 
England are smooth skinned and 
fox hounds, only they are more 
In Germany the dachsund is a 
is not large, has a long body, short legs and no speed, but it seems to have its 
uses and "is very popular. Years ago in England, when clock work machinery 
for turning roast meat before a fire was unknown, there was used instead a 
dog called a " Spitz " a close relation of the dachsund. This small dog was 
put inside a large wheel like a squirrel's and made to run. The wheel was 
connected with a running belt which turned the meat before the fire. 




DOGS OF ALL CLASSES 




Terriers of all kinds have always been very popular. The rough haired 
terriers are lots of fun to have around. If you go out into the fields, or along 
the water's edge, where rats are plentiful you will see the dogs put up a 
a minature hunt which, for excitment and skill, has no equal. 
The rat is nowhere safe but in the trees. If it goes underground 
the terriers will dig it out; if it takes to water they will swim 
after it, and if the rat dives some of the dogs will even 
" submarine " after it. Sometimes while going through the 
woods the terriers will flush a hare or rabbit, and then there 
is an uproar. The dogs rush after the bunny, leaping over 





DOGS OF ALL CLASSE? 

rocks and stones, crashing through undergrowth at 

such speed that if bunny is going to keep its cotton 

tail it must run as it never ran before. Sometimes 

the terriers spy a squirrel quietly eating nuts on tlie 

ground. They charge immediately and the squirrel 

takes to the trees. Then the terriers stand on their 

hind legs and howl with rage. Terriers seem to have "sackett" 

the idea that cats have no right to live. They chase the pussies at every 

opportunity and even carry the war into the enemy's country by hustling the 

cats off their own private door steps. Terriers are quite lively enough for any 

ordinary boy. They will find and hunt anything on four legs and often 

come off the victors. 

Now there are a large class of dogs which have no place in this book 
and are not fit for any decent work — we mean the lap spaniels, skye terriers, 
Italian greyhounds and many others. These little creatures may have their 
uses, but not for boys who love hunting. Theives though admit that these 
little animals are the terror of their lives, on account of their barkine. 

There are many dogs, _rf!^^«^_ jjerhaps the most really useful to 
man, which may be called ^^^^^^^^^ "workers." The first and 

foremost are the sheep ,FcWSlS^±^''^^'^^ ^^*'^^^^" These beautiful 
creatures must be seen ^l;!^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^'Sf at ^\■ork to be appreciated. 
Read "Bob — Son of ^'%^^^^^^^^^^ Battle" and there you 
will find a story built /■ '^ ' ^^^j^^^^^'^ "^ around a splendid sheep 
dog. It is not an un- "v ' f ^^^ common thing for a 

farmer to stand at the ' ' ''^ gate ^\ hen the sheep are loose on 

the mountain and send the dog oft' alone to gather in the flock. Patiently it 
brings all the scattered sheep together and then drives them, not too quickly, 
in the proper direction. Not a single lamb is left behind. When the sheep 
approach the gate, through which they must pass, the dog stops some two 
hundred yards behind and allows the flocks to go through without being 
unduly crowded. The writers have seen one dog handle over a thousand 
sheep ! When it becomes necessary to move sheep from one place to another 
the job can often be done by two dogs and two men. A man and a dog walk 
ahead of the sheep, while the other man and the best dog of the pair follow 
behind and keep the stragglers up to the mark. When the sheep dog is not 
working it " comes to heel ; " that is, walks three paces behind its master. 
The best school for sheep dog puppies is to send them out with old and 
experienced dogs. The first thing the puppies do is to run the sheep too 




A BULL DOG AND BULL TERRIERS. 



DOGS OF ALL CLASSES 

hard and scatter them, but they soon learn. An old sheep dog represents the 
the height of training and intelligence possible in a dog. It will obey a single 
word or wave of the hand and never make a mistake, and if you want to see 
a sample of its skill you should watch one tackle a troublesome old ram that 
keeps trying to break away from the flock. Away goes the dog and its big 
strides soon overhaul the flying sheep. The dog seizes the wool on its neck 
and without biting the flesh and turns the ram back in a instant. You should 
also watch a good sheep dog behind a flock of half grown lambs. The dog 
handles them as gently as a nurse and seems to coax them in the direction 
that they ought to go. 

In the Arctic regions are found the eskimo dogs, short stocky little animals 
which are broken to harness and made to work. A team of these dogs \\ ill 
carry a great load many miles ; in fact much of the exploring and travelling in 
those icy countries could not be carried on without this dog's help. Nansen, 
Peary, and all northern travellers speak well of the eskimo dog; not but what 
they admit that at times the little beasts are very troublesome and quarrel 
fiercely among them themselves, even to the extent of trying to eat each 
other up when driven by hunger. 

In Holland and Belguim you will see dogs har- 
nessed to small milk carts and made to work. It 
seems a pity that the thrifty Dutch can't 
get along without adding another to the 
long list of beasts of burden. It looks very 
odd to see a large and a small dog hitched 
to the same cart, and their gait, when 
they trot, is comical indeed to behold. 

St Bernards come under the head of working dogs, for they sometimes 
rescue travellers from snowdrifts. These dogs however are very uncertain 
in temper especially if they have been chained up when they were puppies. 
Last but not least come the big dogs — watch dogs — these are the Blood- 
hounds, Mastifs and Great Danes. The latter dogs are fine creatures, but 
too big and powerful to have around where children are. Prince Bismark 
was very fond of great danes and often went about accompanied by several 
of the big fellows acting as his bodyguard. 

There are but few boys who possess the knack of training dogs for it 
requires infinite patience and that is something that boys generally havn't 
got. The most ticklish time with a dog is when it is a puppy. A small boy 
we know had a magnificent setter puppy given to him. All went 





ST BERNARD DOGS. 



DOGS OI' AI.l, CLASSES 



well until the " I'ourth of July " when the temptation of tying a buneh of fire 



crackers to its tail got too strong 

present and each one pushed the 

At any rate the deed was 

for fun." What v as the 

was big enough to be 

"gun-shy." 

old now and a most 

but no good. If 

with a gun the dog 



That dog 




There were other chiltlrcn 

other forward, so to speak. 

done " only once and just 

iLsult ? \\'hen the dog 

f-s^ tiamed it was utterly 

is several years 

beautiful creature, 

'T^'Wt^.^ anyone appears 

■" 'f^ijk Xslinks off at once. 

^ ^ done to cure the 

all to no account. 

must remember 

other puppies will 



Everything was 

dog of its fear but 

Furthermore you 

that one gun shy dog among 

make them all gun shy. 

The small owner of the red setter failure had another bad experience 
with a dog that other boys may profit by hearing about. He purchased a 
bull terrier puppy with a pedigree a yard long. This youngster longed to 
own a dog that could lick all other dogs of the neighborhood. With this end 
in view the poor litde puppy was kept almost entirely upon a liberal ^ diet of 
liver and raw meat to make it a " fighting dog." It became very sick, got 
eczema and then fiery mange. The boy tried to cure the mange himself, but 
he did not attend to it every day, but made excuses. After the mange had 
spread to a second dog something had to be done. Dog number two was 
shot and the bull terrier sent to a dog hospital but the desease w^as too far 
gone and it had to be destroyed. Experience is a rough teacher. Dogs 
need as much variety of food and exercise as children. How^ would any 
small boy like to have nothing but meat and water and never get a sight of 
vegi tables, sugar, cake, tea and fruit ? He would grow sick and tired in a very 
short while. ^Boys are lazy in one sense ; that is they don't like to attend to 
duties. If a boy isn't going to keep his puppy washed and free of fleas and 
properly fed and houst^d, he shouldn't be allowed to keep one. All boys start 
out by meaning to be fair to the puppy. 

Boys as a rule are not consistent, they may love their pe'- very much 
but one minute they are apt to beat the dog and the next minute slobber 
over it. We have seen a dog punished for chasing and killing chickens, and 
then, in fun, put to chase the neighbor's chickens. No\\- how is the poor dog 
to know one chicken from another ? 



SHOOTING WILD DUCKS AND GEESE 

If you stand out some night when everything is hushed, you may hear 
a distant " honk ! honic ! " coming, as it seems from the clouds, and if you 



have luck you may see a perfect 
swiftly flying birds scudding 
of the moon. Then you 
the "geese" have come 

Among 
high, for they 
in districts where 
stragglers are 
The geese seem 
and front. The 
after geese when it 
get closer than half a 
caution from " wind '' 
taken, but the bird 
always too cjuick. 
party got out on the mud 
hours before sunrise, and 
for daylight, while the 
mince meat of every bit of 




V of long necked^ 

across the bright face 

will know at once that 

back again. 

game birds the wild geese rank 

are very difficult to shoot, even 

they are plentiful, but where only 

to be found the task is harder. 

to be full of eyes and ears, back 

writer has been 

was impossible to 

mile. Every pre- 

to "cover" was 

watchers were 

One time a 

flats about two 

waited patiently 

mosquitoes made 

flesh left uncovered. 



All around in the dark the " honkings " could be heard and at times a strong 
rush of bird's wings would pass right over head. Then came the false dawn, 
and enough light to see the gun sights. The main portion of the bird army 
was a quarter of a mile away and busily hunting for food, while others 
swam about just offshore. Some men appeared, rowing in a punt, and the 
sentinel gave the alarm. In a moment the entire flock was on the wing. By 
great good luck they headed 
were allowed to pass 
the main body 
tumbled into the 



few seconds 

confusion and 

then the flock 

and was soon " 

The birds had been 

that there was no chance 

round up In a few da)'S the 




for the waiting guns. The leaders 
and then the fire opened on 
and fourteen fat fellows 
water. For a 
there was wild 
hoarse cries and 
c[uickly swerved 
out of gunshot. 
so badly scared 
to have a second 
geese continued 



SHOOTING WILD DUCKS AND GEESE 

their journey to the south, to be gone many mouths, leaving only a few very 

wild stragglers behind. , i . ., 

Duck shooting is just as much fun as hunting geese, and about the 
same amount of caution has to be used. A party consisting of two men and 
two boys got out in a couple of flat punts, well protected by grass arranged in 
front to hide them. This grass was held up like a steeple-chase hedge, and 
loop holes for the guns were left in it. The punt were anchored on the edge 
of the marshes, and a large number of decoys set out in front. At sunrise 
the ducks could be seen in small flocks on every side. Presently a good 
sized flock came scudding along and spied the decoys. The leader swerved 
at once and the others followed. They wheeled around twice and then 
settled unsuspiciously. Bang went the guns and a goodly number fell 
dead floating among the decoys. The dogs were put overboard and soon 
gathered them in. The shooting threatened to be ruined however by a duck 
with a broken wing. The dogs went after it and the duck fluttered out of 
the way, and the more the duck dodged the harder the dogs followed. The 
cha^e was long and stern, and the men in the punts danced war dances and 
tried every means to call the dogs ofl". The duck could not be shot again as 
the doos were too close. At last however one dog grabbed the duck and 
swam with it to the punt. The decoys were gathered and the punts pushed 
through the marshes to the other side. Here the decoys were pfat out again 
and in less than half an hour a very small flock fell into the trap, leaving half 
of their number behind floating dead. After that stragglers from time to time 
would come inside the line of fire and pay the penalty ; at eight oclock when 
it was time to go back to camp for breakfast the sh^^ting ceased^ The 
morning's catch was over fifty ducks and the small boys had killed more 

than half of them. , 

If vou want to have lots of gun practise you can get all you want by 
tackling stray ducks from an open boat. The ducks will let you come qmte 
close and then dive just as you fire. It is good fun and every duck you 
shoot you earn, for it seems at times as though they care little or nothing 
about whole charges of shot. More ducks are lost through using too small 
a grade of shot than anything else. If you don't know the right size there 
are lots of men around who can tell you. - Don't always take the man-m-the- 
shop's word, for he is more anxious to sell you shells than anything else, and 
if he hasn't exactly what you want, he will tell you that something else is 
iust as good An old duck is a tough fellow and will take lots of shooting. 
When hunting ducks along the shore it is often a good scheme to get a 



SHOOTING, WILD DUCKS AND GEESE 

line of boats, and then one branch of the party is ahnost sure to get a shot at 
a flock which c\er way they come. Before now we have seen a duck 
approach the end boat of a hne and get fired at. The shot misses and the 
duck comes down the Une and if it is far away it may escape altogether. 

The best place to get ducks along the shore is in the quiet creeks 




bordered by meadows, for the birds come up at high tide to feed, especially 
if wild celery is found in the water. Again a gale of wind will often drive 
them inland for shelter. The duck is a strong flyer and can make^ great 
speed when it chooses to. When ducks have fed near salt water it is well 
to skin them before cooking, otherwise they will taste fishy. 



MEN, ANIMAL AND BIRD POACHERS. 

The taking of game illegally has always had a great fascination for many 
classes of men and boys and also for animals and birds, but the last two are 
innocent of wrong-doing for they know no laws but those of the forest. 

There is not very much trouble to prevent illegal killing in the United 
States for game is not protected to anything like the extent that it is in 
England and besides there are many acres of public shooting grounds. Never- 
theless the game wardens over here frequently have a good deal of trouble 
watching the deer, quail and partridge in closed season. 

Now let us first examine the work of men poachers in England and we 
shall soon see how the law is evaded. In the first place England is practically 
all " private property " and there is no shooting to be had for the ordinary man. 
Farmers generally have the right to shoot over their own property. Then 
again there is a tax of fifteen dollars per anumn upon possessing a gun and 
that alone it is a considerable sum of money. 

The real poacher of England seldom uses a gun, but relies on snares and 
dogs to catch his game. The game, once caught, whether it be fish or bird, is 
sold at a low price in certain country saloons or " public houses " as they are 
called, and from these "go-betweens" or receivers of stolen goods, the game 
mysteriously finds its way into the city markets. 

The dog is the most important part of the poacher's outfit and its breed 
is usually doubtful. There is a dog in England 
called a "lurcher" being half collie and half game dog. 
The lurcher is a nondescript looking dog having long 
legs and an unbalanced tail. It always appears 
meek and down-trodden. It has not much of a 
gait to look at, but it can cover ground at great 
speed and keep it up in wolf-fashion. But first 
and last the lurcher is dispised by all sportsmen 
simply because it is a rather an ungainly looking mongrel. 
But on the other hand, it is wonderfully clever and silent 
and can be taught to work in a truly marvellous fashion. 

Take for instance the illegal method of capturing hares. The poacher 
spreads a loose net under the gate of a field and then hides nearby. The net 
has been soaked in coffee until it is as near as possible the color of the ground. 
Now hares have a habit of feeding in the open fields and it is well known that 
if they are disturbed they generally run toward the nearest gate, for hedge- 
rows are grown of thorn bushes which are hard to get through. While 
the net is being put in position and securely tied, the lurcher lies down and 




MF.N, AXI.MAL AND lUkl) I'OACIII'IKS 

waits for its master to o-jvcs his orders to round up the o;anie. 

The poacher makes the sit^mal and the dop; silently moves away like a 
shadow. It encircles the field and shows itself for an instant at various points 
on all sides and alarms the hares just a little. In this manner it gets all the 



hares into the centre of the 
through a gap in the hedge 
take to flight, and usually 
few seconds a couple of 
gled in the meshes and 
into a sack. Then the 



field and then the dog makes a break 

In an instant the hares 

towards the gate. In a 

them are hopelessly entan- 

are soon popped 

poacher gathers up 




his net, the dog returns to heel and the pair steal away. IMind you, all this 
time the man has been concealed ; the dog has not shown itself, and above 
all, absolute silence has been maintained. The writers have seen a poacher 
take hares in this way while a large party of country folks were haymaking 
right in the next field. 

Rabbits are captured by netting the burrow holes and turning a ferret 
loose in the warren to drive the bunnies out. Another way of catchmg 
rabbits is by placing a loop of brass wire, about five or six inches in diameter 
in their runways. The end of the wire is fastened to a wooden peg which 
is firmly driven in the ground. The bunny, in running along, gets its head 
through the loop, and, in its frantic struggles to escape, is soon strangled to 
death for it always pulls forward. 

Pheasants are artificial birds which were imported from China over a 
century ago and are now raised for shooting purposes. 

The pheasants have numbers of enemies and some of them do not get 
credit for their theiving exploits. Take for instant the Jay. This bird, by the 
way is larger and colored more brilliantly than its American cousin. The 
pair divide honors upon noiseness. The English jay is a terrible thief and it 
devotes most of its attention to stealing the eggs of its neighbors. Pheasants 
suffer largely. The hens lay a fair number of good sized olive colored eggs 
in a roomy nest, usually well concealed on the ground. These eggs fetch a 
good price in the market and the temptation to men poachers to find them is 
therefore great. Now a lurcher is useful for this work because it has a nose 
like a bloodhound and w ill find a nest in cjuick time. There is considerable 
danger here however, because the game keepers find the nests too, and the 
strictest watch is kept over the setting hens. Still every season the poacher 
manages to get away with a good many nestfuls. 

When the pheasants are full grown the poacher is alter them again. It 



MEN, ANIMAL AND BIRD POACHERS 

is impossible to use 
a gun because the 
shooting would be 
heard and the pheas- 
ant is fearfully noisy. 
It seldom gets up 
without crying in its 
loud shrill notes and 
thereby warning any 
game keeper who 
happened to be near. 
But the poacher gets 
around the difficulty. 
He waits till night- 
fall and then goes 
into the woods on a 
moonlight evening 
and soon find the 
pheasants roosting in 
the branches, outlined 
against the sky a few 
feet above his head. 
But even here the 
poacher must be 
careful for if one of 
the birds is disturbed 
it will scream and 
spread the alarm over 
a square mile or 
more. Now the poacher takes with him a long stick, having at the top end a 
metal cup. In this he places a mixture of oil and sulphur. Carefully shading 
his hands he strikes a match and gets the mixture smouldering. He then 
holds the deadly fumes under the roosting birds. Pheasants are very sleeply 
and seldom move at night unless violently disturbed. Provided there is no 
wind and the fumes go^up straight, it is not long before the sleeping birds 
are suffocated, and tumble head over heels to the ground. The poacher 
quickly wrings their necks and stows them in his pockets rapidly makes his 
way home before the first streaks of dawn show in the eastern sky. 




MEN, AXIMAL AXIJ HIRD POACHERS 

Fish in England are as strictly protected as birds, but here again the 
poacher shows his cleverness. His ways of getting trout are numerous. 
On a wholesale scale he will net part of a river and then go up stream and 
set a lot of lime afloat. The fishes bodies then come down into the net below. 
This is a fearful scheme, for usually not a fish of any kind escapes alive. 
This act is done more for revenge than anything else. In ordinary country 
police court cases in England there is always difficulty in getting magistrates 
to attend to their sworn duties, but if a case of poaching comes along there is 
always a full bench and the prisoner can rely upon getting the utmost limit 
that the law provides. There was a certain squire who took great delight in 
jailing poachers, and his acts were often doubtful legally. But the poachers 
soon got together and they cleared his big estate of every vestii;e of game 
that could be found upon it. The country folk generally sympathize with the 
poacher and there is mighty litde tale bearing or " squealing." 

The poacher often amuses himself by walking along the edge of a trout 
stream, armed with a stick about two feet long which has on the end three 
sharp steel prongs, about an inch apart. The instument looks like a small 
eel spear. The poacher then seeks for lurking trout and spears them. Some 
men grow wonderfully expert at this work. Then again a poacher can some- 
times put his hand right under a trout and grab it. 

School boys become very expert with the sling shot, which by the way, 
over there, is made in a far more scientific way than our American boys have 
ever dreamed of. These boys get into overhanging willow trees and watch 
for the trout to come swimming by on the surface and then shoot at them. 
Big fish often thus fall into their clutches. 

Sometimes poachers net a stream in a narrow part and then walk down 
stream keeping the frightened fish swimming ahead of them until they are 
driven at last into the net. 

Perhaps one of the worst forms of poaching is with an illegal fishing bait 
made in the form of a paste, from the roe of a salmon. Trout can easily, — 
too easily in fact, — be caught with it. Great distruction to the salmon fisheries 
is caused by the capture of " pink." The salmon, when very young is hard 
to distinguish, except by a black dot near the eye, from the ordinary trout, 
and the fish, when at this age, is called a " pink." This baby salmon bites very 
freely and the temptation to catch it is great. But every time a pink is caught 
a salmon is destroyed. While at school the writer has used " salmon paste " 
and nearly cleared a stream of pink, in an evening. The little fish are fine 
eating. On one occasion the writer, who was innocent then, caught w hat he 



MEN, ANIMAL AND BIRD POACHERS. 

took to be a fine mess of trout, and sent them as a present to a sporting 
uncle. When the old gentleman discovered that the trout were " pink " and 
moreover that they had been captured with the wicked paste his indignation 
knew no bounds. 

In rainy weather, when the rivers swell, the big salmon come up stream. 
During a great rain storm the writer made one of a group standing on a 
stone bridge crossing the river Usk. Suddenly a fifty pound salmon was 
seen swimming in shallow water. At the same time a guard at the bridge 
end announced that a river game keeper was coming. Immediately all the 
men moved to the other side of the bridge, and stared intently down stream. 
The keeper came up and went past, and then the men sauntered back to the 
other side of the bridge. The salmon was still there. One of the men, a 
famous poacher, produced a small gaff from under his coat, and swifdy made 
his way to the water's edge. Here he waded in up to his middle. He put 
the gaff under water and then giving a quick turn to his wrist he slung the 
great fish clear out of water and onto the bank. Here a second man stood 
ready, who grabbed the salmon and fled into a nearby cottage with the prize. 
The gaff was concealed, pipes got out and relit, and in a few seconds you 
couldn't have told that any of the men in the party had moved. Moreover 
the game keeper was not even out of sight until after the fish had been 
hooked, landed and safely housed. 

Another favorite form of poaching is that of setting bated night lines. 
These are very easy to conceal and often bring in a good catch of fish as the 
writer can testify. River work is riskier than field work for there are less 
places to hide. Years ago salmon were speared at night from a boat carry- 
ing a hanging light on the bow, but this has gone considerably out of fashion 
as^he light can be seen such a long distance. When modern, extra power, 
bicycle lamps were invented the poachers were quick to seize their opportun- 
ity, and soon had shades arranged so that the light could be complete turned 
dark at a moments notice and then flashed when needed. Salmon spearing 
is still practised on some of the highland lochs, but not very much. 

Now let us examine some of the work of poaching, or rather game 
killing that is done by birds and animals. Take salmon for instance, these 
great'fish have no more persistent enemy than the Otter, for this creature 
can swim and dive marvellously, and will carry the fight on under water if 
the salmon wishes it. The writer has frequently seen a salmon floating dead 
with only a small part of the choicest flesh from its back missing— clearly 
the work of a distructive otter. Herons are persistent fishmen with large 





b- 



MEN, ANIMAL AND BIRD POACHERS 

appetites and when the fish are very small these beautiful birds will account 
for the slaughter of many thousands of them during a season. 

To return to pheasants and partridges, besides man robbers there are 
the bird and| 
animal thieves 
to be reckoned 
with. The 
Shrikes or 
butcher birds 
kill the fled- 
glings when 
they are ver) 
small. Weasels 
kill scores too 
but sometimes, 
when food 1=; 
scarce, turn the 
tables and raid 
or kill the butch- 
er bird itself. "^ - — ^ — ^ -=— - — 

By the way the butcher bird gets its name from a curious habit it has. It 
builds its nest in a thorny place. It hangs all its prey round about on the 
thorns so that near its nest may be found an assortment of bettles, young 
birds, field mice and other little creatures all hung up. The nest looks just 
like a butcher's larder. 

Weasels are deadly pests in a game preserve and very hard to clear out. 
They do not always kill to eat, but kill just for the sake of killing. A weasel 
has been known to go through a small fur wood where pheasant hens were 
setting and to break every egg and kill many of the birds, and yet it has 
never been even seen and has escaped every kind of trap, dead-fall and 
poisoned bait, not to mention numerous guns. 

Owls kill a good many game birds but only because they happen to find 
them close at hand, for rats and mice form the chief diet of the downy ones. 
Owls are easy to catch however. An upright pole is set in the ground, 
having about seven feet stuck up in the air. On this a round "gin," or 
steel snap trap, is placed. No bait is necessary for the owls alight on the 
poles and are thus caught by the legs. Hawks get into trouble in the same, 
way for you must have noticed how they like to sit high up, for instance 




iLWVK ATTACKING PARTRIDGES 



MEN, ANIMAL AND BIRD POACHERS 

on the top of a fence, or a dead limb of a tree, where they can see all around 
them. Crows have this same habit too. 

Now the larger hawks are rare in England, except the Kestrel and 
Sparrow hawks, nevertheless the few there are do a deal of damage. A hawk 
isn't particular, it will pall down a pheasant, partridge, rabbit or chicken, just 




whichever comes first, in fact they are especially fond of raldmg the poultry 
yard. The game keepers know that the hawks seldom take the trouble to 
build a nest themselves but take possession of an abandoned magpie or 
crows' nest When the Httle hawks are born they become very noisy and 
soon betray the place of the nest. The game keeper then sends a couple of 
barrels of shot through the nest and puts the entire family out of commission. 
Crows do their share of zgg stealing and killing of little chicks, and 
often in severe weather find half frozen bunnies and soon kill them, but 




WEASELS AND SHRIKES. 



MEN, ANIMAL AND BIRD POACHERS 




sometimes however the cold proves too much even for them and they are 
found dead instead. 

It is not an uncommon thing to see crows in mid-air with bird's eggs 
in their mouths. They do not often try to carry the egg in their beaks, but 
rather make a small hole in the shell and push the closed beak mto it. 
Ravens are so rare that they are not considered among the vermin. As 
they live in the wilder parts of the land they do most harm to sheep. 

Foxes do considerable damage to rabbits and pheasants, but nothing 
to the extent of the weasels' operations. Quite often a vixen takes the 
cubs out with her and they are taught to hunt the little rabbits, before they 
are allowed to follow the bigger game. The cubs soon become as cunning 
as their parents, and the distruction of bunnies goes forward at a great rate. 
Rats are classed among the "vermin" by the game keepers and are killed on 
every occasion and nailed to the barn door. Water rats kill large numbers 



MEN, y\NI.MAL AND BIRD POACHIiRS 

of tiny fish and o\\ ing to their swimming powers they are very hard to trap, 
but luckily they are not as numerous as their land brothers. Snakes are 
small and very harmless in England and hardly worth counting. 

Lastly we must mention the numerous song and other birds which 
come under the protective law, and yet men snare hundreds of larks and 
bullfinches with net and birdlime. This abuse will never be checked until 




the sale in shops of larks for eating purpose is made unlawful. 

So you see from what we have written that there are many men busily 
employed all the time in snaring game and they never stop to worry them- 
selves about " mine and thine." The cause is not to be readily seen by the 
uninstructed eye, but it is safe to say that England having made the game 
laws so stupidly brutal, that the poacher came along as a natural result. 



HINTS ON CAMPING 

The first and most important thing in camping in the open, is the tent. 
There are many concerns in the United States which make a business of 
supplying hunters with proper outfits, and it is well to consult these people, 
for they have made a special study of the subject. 

There are any number of tents, large and small, but it is always well to 
have one with a double roof or " shelter" over it. This keeps the tent cool, 
and gives extra protection during rain storms. Never put in tent pegs lean- 
ing away from the tent ; always have the head of the tent peg leaning towards 
the tent. If it should come to rain, and the ropes shrink, there will then be 
some "give," otherwise the shrinkage will either break the pegs, or tear the 
side of the tent out. Remember that new ropes and canvas shrink quite a 
little, so do not set the tent up too rigid at first. Fixing a falling tent at night 
in a rainstorm is no joke. Then look to the ground. Always pitch your 
tent on rising ground when possible, and dig a small trench on the higher 
sides, otherwise you will have a littie river flowing under your canvas. 

You can buy cooking and eating outfits for almost any price, depending 
on size and quality. Carry as little glass as possible ; tin or enamel plates are 
best. Also compact folding knives, forks and spoons are good to- carry. Very 
neat folding candle lamps are made, but take the ones with mica sides, in 
preference to glass. Candles must be kept in a cool place, as they melt at a 
low temperature. 

Don't forget to take along a good compass, and don't store it near the 
knives and forks, or guns or anything steel, otherwise it will be thrown out. 
Remember if you get lost that you can always find your position roughly in 
this way. Point the hour hand of your watch to the sun, and twelve o'clock 
on the dial will be due south. 

As to clothes, you will need good strong, soft-collared shirts and leggings. 
These two are most important. As to waterproofs, the army " poncho " is 
the best thing. This is simply a sheet of rubber cloth about seven feet long 
by five feet wide. There is a slit in the middle through which the head is 
put. This hangs down over the shoulders and leaves the arms free ; a most 
comfortable and servicable thing to have. When not in use, the blankets 
should be wrapped up in it. 

Building a fire is quite a trick. Get two logs or stones and lay them 
a few feet apart. Start your fire with leaves, or dry paper and small twigs. 
Do not hurry a fire, but coax it to burn. Lay the logs in right position to 
the wind, so that the draft goes between the logs or stones. Don't get the 
fire too close to the tent and stores. Also put in your kit a litUe whisky or 



HINTS ON CAMPING IN GENERAL 

brandy in case of a drcnchins^^ or chills. A metal flask is safest to carry. 

Cartridges are best carried in tin cases covered with leather, and having 
a handle. Guns should be kept well oiled, and with corks, or rags in the 
barrels when not in use. It would be well to paint a thin line of varnish over 
the sewing on the edges of your leather gun cases, and then give the whole 
thing a rub down with oil. This will protect them against water. It is not well 
to oil sewn seams too much, as the thread may rot, hence the use of the varnish. 

Hang everything up as much as possible and guard your stores against 
insects. Remember 'that ants hail your advent into the woods with great joy. 
They look upon you and your eatables and stores as something to be raided 
by day and night. 

When you break camp leave the place clean, bury your cans and bottles, 
burn your paper, and be sure that your fire is out. Campers are responsible 
for many of the great forest fires. 

Dogs require as much shelter as you do. Take them in on wet nights. 
Dog fleas are not to be feared as they seldom leave the dog. 

"^When camping from a canoe be sure that the canoe does not leak before 
you start. Above all, leave nothing loose for you know not the minute when 
you may have a " tip-up," and diving for missing things is a hard job. 

Store your weight in the middle, and have the heaviest man paddle aft, 
and be sure to carry an extra paddle. Be careful in hauling the canoe in and 
out of the water, for once you are in the woods leaks are not easy to mend. 

Remember that when the blankets are wrapped up in the waterproof 
covering the seam should be underneath so that in case of rain no water will 
drain in. The tent poles may be strapped on the outside of the canoe. 

We have not tried to give you full instructions for camping but have 
mentioned a few things that are imporant, and are sometimes forgotten. 




THE END 









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